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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
December 24, 2015
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Holiday Hours
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T
he "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center and Wildlife Drive (because it's Friday) will close on Christmas Day, December 25. The Center will also be closed New Year's Day, January 1, but Wildlife Drive will remain open so you can still spend your holidays with us and our wildlife friends.
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From "Ding" Darling to you and yours, the jolliest of holiday seasons.
Wishing you a beautiful season
filled with heartfelt moments
and cherished memories.
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
John Muir
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 Refuge Land Donation
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society accepted and closed Monday, December 7, on a 9.1-acre parcel of land donated by National Investment and Development Corporation on Sanibel Island near Clam Bayou and Bowman's Beach. "The parcel of environmentally sensitive land will become part of the J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge complex and will be managed
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Thank you to Roni Freer
Generous Estate Gift
When Roni Freer retired from her career as a college professor, she chose Sanibel Island largely based on her love for the "Ding" Darling Refuge. She was a regular visitor to Wildlife Drive, according to her family, and often lectured them on the importance of supporting refuges to protect the wildlife.
Roni's love of nature continued throughout her life as a teacher and college professor. She enjoyed her summers off and often traveled by automobile throughout the United States, stopping to
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The Roseate Spoonbill was one of Roni_s favorite birds. Photo by Terry Baldwin
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admire the beauty of nature along the way. While she was a world traveler, she said one of her favorite places to visit was a national or state park, wildlife refuge, or wetlands. She thought that these lands were some of the best things Click HERE to read more
Roni had the foresight to include the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society in her will - so that her advocacy for wildlife and "Ding" Darling would survive her. Her legacy gift adds more than $20,000 to benefit the Refuge.
When planning your legacy, please consider a gift that will benefit this planet for generations to come.
Click here
to learn more or contact Birgie Miller by
email
or phone (239-292-0566).
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As 2015 is coming to a close, we are feeling nostalgic about some of our favorite memories from this past year. We would love to hear your favorites as well!
Email us and tell us your stories.
This year we saw some great wildlife out on Wildlife Drive...
 
...we caught some glimpses of elusive friends with our trail cams...
...and we cultivated the minds of young conservation stewards.
 
What a year! Thanks to all those who have helped make all this (and so much more) possible.
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Don't start your new year with REGRETS, help save our EGRETS
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Your year-end gift helps ensure a happy new year for Refuge wildlife. Photo by Al Hoffacker.
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As 2015 draws to an end, please consider the value of making a tax-deductible year-end gift to the
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society to support efforts that protect our wildlife. Your gift will help support the Refuge in areas such as conservation education, water quality, wildlife research, land acquisition, walkways and trails, educational exhibits, intern programs, and preserving and protecting vital land for our current and future wildlife. To donate online, please
click here. Or contact
Birgie Miller by email or at
239-292-0566
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Chinese Delegates Visit
Six wetland experts from China visited the Refuge on Monday, December 14, as part of a week-long delegation to Southwest Florida arranged by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuge in partnership with the Chinese State Forestry Administration. After a tour of the Refuge
, the delegation enjoyed a dinner hosted by the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society at the home of board member Mark Banks and his wife Gretchen. The visit, the result of a long-established exchange program between China and the U.S., aimed to demonstrate to the
Chinese officials how the wetlands are managed and preserved in Southwest
Florida.
(Top) The Chinese delegation prepares for a Refuge tour.
(Bottom) The guests of Mark and Gretchen Banks make a toast.
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Film Series Sponsors
Sanibel-Captiva Beach Resorts
will be sponsoring the fourth annual "Ding" Darling Wednesday Film Series January 6 through April 14, 2016. The series' free bi-monthly showings this winter include eight films that explore natural facets from vanishing bees and fish, to plastic overload. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society hosts the free film showings in
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Go Wild for "Ding" Sponsors
Thanks to our generous sponsors who have already signed on for the Go Wild for 'Ding' -
Dance of the Reddish Egret
event on
February 23, 2016
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Sponsors are still needed. To become a sponsor, please contact Birgie Miller by
email or phone (239-292-0566).
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.
Guardian Level: TBD
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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.
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New Store Assistant
Jeanne Walsh first visited the "Ding" Darling Refuge 15 years ago while on vacation
with her husband and three children. She was awed by the birds, raccoons, and
alligators. Now she's back - living on Sanibel and working part-time at the Refuge Nature Store. Formerly a resident
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2016 Board of Directors
Current and Emeritus Board of Director members gathered at the annual meeting in December for a group shot. Please remember to thank them for all the great time and effort they put forth to make "Ding" Darling one of the best refuges in the nation.
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A picture book for all ages, the second edition of
Manatees: The Gentle Giants will make you fall in love with Florida's state marine mammal - if you haven't already. More than 60 stunning photographs by Gregory Sweeney tell the story of the manatee and its natural beauty. Sweeney shot the images over 15 years, chronicling the often humorous, sometimes surprising behaviors of the sweet behemoth. Cost is $19.95.
Email or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 to order your copies today. Remember, proceeds from all Nature Store purchases directly benefit the manatees and other cool Refuge creatures, plus research and education projects.
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January 1, 2016, marks the deadline
for local high school students to enter the third annual "Ding" Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest. High school students in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry counties can compete for
prizes that include a Canon digital SLR camera package, chartered class trips to the Refuge, and copies of Waterbirds: Portraits and Anecdotes from Birding Adventures by contest namesake, the late Theodore Cross. He lived part-time on Sanibel I
sland and has family still living here
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Looks like someone is eager to seize some real estate on Sanibel! Ospreys are busy building their nests, which means that it's nesting and hatching season!
Thanks to Jan Shandera for this cool photo!
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Holiday Volunteer Luncheon
The Refuge and "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society celebrated the holidays with a volunteer appreciation luncheon on Friday, December 11. The Refuge volunteer corps hit a record high this year with more than 290 volunteers who make "Ding" Darling tick. A BIG thanks!
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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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