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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
December 31, 2015
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Holiday Hours
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The "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center will be closing at 12:30 p.m. today, December 31. T
he "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center and Wildlife Drive (because it's Friday) will close on New Year's Day, January 1. The Visitor & Education Center will reopen at 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 2, and will begin seasonal hours - closing at 5 p.m. - until April 30.
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NOTICE:
New Lecture Series Seating Policy
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Seating for lectures is limited and available on a first-come basis. We suggest you arrive one hour early to assure seating. Early arrivals can save one seat each and then may explore the Visitor & Education Center, Nature Gift Shop, or Indigo Trail before the lecture begins. Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before the lecture begins and will be given to those waiting shortly thereafter if not filled. Staff is not responsible for monitoring unattended, saved seats. We appreciate your passion for learning about conservation and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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| Lectures fill fast, so plan on arriving early. |
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Happy New Year!
As 2015 dissolves into 2016, a new year full of promise, we want to thank all of our loyal supporters - donors, sponsors, volunteers, photographers, teachers, business and nonprofit partners - who made this year another one of great firsts and many other successes.
We thank you deeply on behalf of the birds, mammals, and tiniest insects (including no-see-ums!) whose lives you impact. We look forward to continued partnerships and friendships in the coming year.
With today being the last day of 2015,
please consider making a year-end donation to the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society. Please help us give the gift of a beautiful, safe, and thriving refuge for wildlife whose environment continues to shrink each and every day.
Remember, no gift is ever too small; your donation and membership gift plays a vital role in conserving YOUR National Wildlife Refuge here on Sanibel Island.
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Learn about Florida manatees at a free program every Sunday at 11 a.m.
Photo by: Frank Brinker
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January 4: FREE Winter
Programming Begins
From birding and biking the Refuge, to learning about gators and crocs, the seasonal calendar of
free programs and tours at "Ding" Darling begins next Monday, January 4, 2016, and runs through April 2, 2016. Daily programs start at 8:30 a.m. and include such diverse topics as
READ MORE
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Film Series
January 6: Flight to Extinction
The cautionary film
From Billions to None: The Passenger Pigeon's Flight to Extinction opens the fourth annual "Ding" Darling Wednesday Film Series on January 6, 2016, at 2:30 p.m. in the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center Auditorium. The 57-minute film reveals how passenger pigeons once filled the skies
READ MORE
CLICK HERE to see the full line-up of films in the series.
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January 12: Next Solar Meeting
SanCap Solar Connect's next free informational Solar Community meeting will take place on
Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 5:30 p.m.
in the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center Auditorium. No reservations are necessary to attend the meeting.
CLICK HERE
for details.
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2016 Lecture Series
First Lecture January 8
Cindy Bear from Randell Research Center on Pine Island and
The Plant World of the Calusa: A View from Pineland
author Martha Kendall team up to talk about how local flora helped the Calusa culture to thrive centuries ago. As a kickoff to the 13-part "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture Series, they will present two programs beginning at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016 in the free "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center
READ MORE
CLICK HERE to view the season's lecture series schedule.
 A BIG thanks to our 2016 Lecture Series sponsors:
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Go Wild for "Ding"
It has become a tradition at our annual winter fundraiser to auction off a feather pin and membership in the Jim Sprankle Feather Club, named for the feathers' sculptor, a well-loved island character. At this year's
Go Wild for "Ding" - Dance of the Reddish Egret event on
Tuesday, February 23, 2016, the tradition continues, but with an "EGGstra special" chance drawing instead of an auction. Formerly the
READ MORE
Click here for links to pages where you can make
event reservations and purchase
chances for a drawing
for a carved Reddish Egret Feather Pin and admission into the Jim Sprankle Feather Club.
We have such generous and supportive sponsors!
Guardian Level: TBD
Defender Level:
Bailey's General Store
,
Big Red Q Quickprint,
Cast About Charters
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Hightower Advisors Fort Myers
, Mike & Terry Baldwin, Doug & Sherry Gentry, Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc.,
Gulf Coast Landscape Supply
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George & Wendy's Seafood Grille
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Queenie's Ice Cream,
Sanibel Sweet Shoppe
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Vortex Optics
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Glen & Phyllis Gresham
Sponsors are still needed.
To become a sponsor, please contact Birgie Miller by
email
or phone (239-292-0566).
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Ranger Toni Talks Birds
As part of Refuge Outreach, Ranger Toni Westland has created a series of nature videos for Tanglewood Elementary School in Fort Myers.
They encourage students every Friday to get outside during the weekend.
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 Time to Register for "Ding" Darling Doc Ford's Tarpon Tourney 2016
Get a jump on the
"Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament competition: Register early and score an early start time slot the day of the tourney, May 7, 2016. Registration is now open and forms are available by
CLICKING HERE.
The tourney
aw
arded a total of $25,375 in its 2015 event - 100% of angler fees. The tournament raises money for the Refuge through sponsorships and silent auctions. Interested in becoming a sponsor or donor for this high-exposure event?
Email
or call (239-292-0566) tournament organizer Birgie Miller.
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| Last year's 2015 winners, Team Sportfisha.com pulled in four tarpon and more than $11,000. |
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New at the Refuge Nature Store
Handwriting just got a whole lot wilder and more artistic and fun with our new line of
graphite object "pencils". Natural graphite and smudge resistant compounds are fused together under intense pressure. Artist Agelio Batle of San Francisco meticulously fashions the material into handcrafted pieces using innovative methods.
Any part of the small objects makes its mark, and without staining hands. They last up to seven years with everyday use and do not require sharpening. The writing instruments come in two sizes: small sparrow, snake, hummingbird, quill, and shell objects for $34 each; and extra small, with a pad of paper, in owl, bee, and frog styles for $28.
Email or call (239) 472-1100 ext. 241 to order your wildlife pencils today.
Remember, proceeds from all Nature Store purchases directly benefit Refuge wildlife, plus research and education projects.
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Have you had an awesome Refuge experience? Please share it on
TripAdvisor.com
. Here's a five-star review from a fan
during Christmas weekend.
"
Nature at its best! It felt so nice to drive through and stop and see the birds, trees and nature at its best. The weather was so nice and kids enjoyed it so much stopping and looking at wildlife. Thanks to a nice elderly couple who were also driving by and had a very nice swarovski telescope for bird watching and they invited our little kids to watch birds with them every time they saw a really beautiful bird. Thank you guys!"
guaravg10
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Were you naughty or nice this year?
Thanks to Jim Bennight for the photos of the Yellow Rat Snake.
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These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our website at
www.dingdarlingsociety.org to learn more!
Sincerely,
"Ding" On The Wing composed by
Designed by Sarah Lathrop and interns Carrie Alexander and Anna Grubb
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