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Throughout the years, we have assisted in planting various kinds of habitat. All in which benefits the wildlife.
At Friends of Cibola NWR, we believe that not every project needs to be large-scale to make a meaningful impact. The Island Unit Storage Container Painting Project is a perfect example of how routine maintenance plays a vital role in supporting our mission.
These storage containers house essential tools and supplies used by us to care for the refuge. Over time, exposure to the desert sun and weather can wear down their exterior, leading to rust, deterioration, and reduced functionality. While it may seem like a small task, this painting project is part of a larger effort to maintain the infrastructure that supports conservation and community engagement. It’s a reminder that stewardship starts with the basics—and that every brushstroke contributes to the bigger picture. Special thanks to Dan Bliss for volunteering his time and skills to provide the much-needed face lift for this storage container. Thank you to Dave Grundy for fixing the floor to keep the little critters out and thank you to the refuge volunteers for prepping the container for it to be painted by pressuring washing it. Cost of this project for paint and supplies $344.70.
Each year, Friends of Cibola NWR hosts annual workdays—hands-on events where dedicated volunteers come together to support the refuge through meaningful maintenance and improvement projects.
These workdays aren’t just about getting things done—they’re about preserving the refuge’s beauty, functionality, and accessibility for wildlife and visitors alike. From painting storage containers to clearing trails and restoring habitats, every task serves a purpose.
Did you know that prior to the Friends of Cibola National Wildlife Refuge paving the headquarters parking lot that it was the original parking lot that the refuge was established with back in 1964? In helping assist, we paid Andy's Tractor Service, Inc. to have the parking lot paved, as well as had the biannual maintenance of resealing the parking lot. What does resealing the parking lot do? It protects the asphalt from weather that could possibly deteriorate the asphalt. Think of sealing coating the parking lot like how we wear sunscreen to protect our skin. Paving the parking lot cost $7,040.
Did you know that when a fawn is first born, it is not able to jump a canal? At first, this doesn't seem as if it would sound like a big problem, right? Well, actually irrigation canals, are located throughout various parts of the refuge. The canals help supply water for fields for habitat as well as help provide water to areas that need to be flooded such as ponds and marshes. Every year, when the Desert Mule Deer birth their fawns, a common risk for fawns is trying to clear the canal which results in the possibility of them falling in. To help assist in trying to prevent this, we built 3 in July costing $519.59 and then in September built an additional 3. With lumber prices rising and needing additional supplies the cost was $840.49.
Designed with style in mind. What do you first notice about this picture? Are you quick to notice the purpose behind the design, or does your attention get drawn to the design itself first? Yes, the title of this image is "Donation Box", but this is not just a box. Did you know that Dan Bliss, who was one of the Directors of the Friends of Cibola NWR at that time, made this donation box. This donation box, that is located in the Visitor Center of the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, is actually what an American Kestrel Nesting box looks like, minus the green stand of course. Cost for building materials for this project was $26.29.
Created with wildlife in mind. These beautiful benches can be seen most predominantly in the various blinds located in the Island Unit Pond area. They are extremely comfortable to sit on and were made locally by Dan Bliss, who at that time was one of the directors of the Friends of Cibola NWR. Prior to these benches being made, every year, 100-pound hay bales would be hauled out by hand to the various blind locations. These hay bales posed a risk of possible invasive species of weed growth. Over time, as the bales would break down, they would fall apart in the blind as well as increased the sitting height in the blind, which is not very good for observing the wildlife. The bales were not only uncomfortable, but during those dewy mornings would become wet to sit on. With our annual workdays, these benches are now placed during the start of the migration, and then are stored afterwards, to increase the longevity of the benches. Cost of this project was $729.18.
Have you seen this before? If you have had the wonderful opportunity to drive around the Goose Loop Auto Tour, then you might have noticed the different American Kestrel Nesting boxes located throughout the area in various locations. Dan Bliss, one of the Directors of the Friends of Cibola NWR, at that time, created 6 of these nesting boxes and donated them to us. He made the nesting boxes from following the instructions from a brochure that explains how to make them located in the Visitor Center. Did you know that these nesting boxes have to be spaced 1/4 mile apart? This is due to the American Kestrel being territorial. Since the addition of the nesting boxes, several American Kestrel's have been spotted utilizing these great new additions.
What better way to help control insects naturally, than to use nature itself. The Friends of Cibola NWR donated 6 bat boxes that have 3 chambers in each box. Each chamber can hold at least 60 bats. Each bat can eat three times its weight in insects each night. This is a wonderful addition, especially when the mosquitos are most prevalent in the area. Now that's a lot of bugs. The total cost for 6 bat boxes $281.53.
