The August 24th meeting of Maryland’s Board of Public Works opened with Governor Larry Hogan presenting several of Patuxent Research Refuge’s most dedicated volunteers with a Governor’s Citation “on behalf of the citizens of this State in recognition of [their] commitment to Patuxent Research Refuge.” State Comptroller Peter Franchot and State Treasurer Nancy Kopp also expressed their grateful thanks to the volunteers.
~Frank McGilvrey has donated more than 26,000 hours of service since he started volunteering at the refuge in 1996, participating in waterfowl surveys; monitoring nesting song birds, ducks, and geese; interacting with the public at the captive wood ducks station during visitor events; and working at the hunter control station, among other assignments.
~Rod Burly has volunteered more than 12,000 hours since 1993. Rod leads popular public programs, such as herp surveys, bird walks, and owl prowls; coordinates the Christmas Bird count on the North tract of the refuge; and has worked in many other areas over the years.
~Claudia Papillo started volunteering in 2004, and she is so dedicated that she spends her entire weekend – 16-18 hours a week, 49 weeks a year – serving at the Visitor Center front information desk.
The Patuxent Research Refuge, located in Laurel, MD, is the nation's only national wildlife refuge established to support wildlife research. No matter what your volunteer interest in wildlife, there is a way you can contribute to the refuge! Interested? Contact Volunteer Coordinator Diana Ogilvie at 301.497.5565, or email her at diana_ogilvie@fws.gov. Diana is available Sundays – Thursdays, 8 am – 4:30 pm.