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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
November 25, 2015
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Ranger Becky Larkins with families from the Hispanic community who all came for a family field trip thanks to a grant from the LAT Foundation and Wells Fargo
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Wood Stork by Patty MacInnis
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"The Chase" Little Blue Heron
Photo by Al Hoffacker
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May the season's blessings be yours this Thanksgiving holiday as we take the time to offer thanks for all we receive throughout the year. Here at DDWS and the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, we are thankful for the people who help make the conservation efforts at the Refuge possible. Thank you for caring for our wildlife, who can't speak for themselves.
Thanksgiving Day Schedules
T
he Refuge Visitor & Education Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, as will all Refuge offices. However, Wildlife Drive,
Tarpon Bay Explorers
, and Bailey Tract will all remain
open.
Click here
for information on special hours and activities at Tarpon Bay Explorers.
All operations will resume regular business hours on Friday, November 27. Wildlife Drive will be closed that day, as it is every Friday.
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.
~Theodore Roosevelt
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| Kids up to age 15 win trophies and prizes at the free derby. |
Free Kids Fishing Derby
This Weekend
Kids who are able to hold their own fishing pole may participate in
the free fourth annual "Ding" Darling Kids Fishing Derby to be held at the Sanibel Causeway Islands Park (Island A) on Saturday,
November 28, 2015.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on the causeway, and ages 15 and younger start fishing
READ
MORE
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The Refuge Nature Store is decorated and ready for its festive annual Happy Hour Holiday Shopping event.
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Happy Hour Holiday Shopping
Forget Black Friday. Think instead green
Thursday, December 3, the date of the Refuge Nature Store's third annual Happy Hour Holiday Shopping event in the Visitor & Education Center. This year we have extended the event an extra hour, after the center closes. It runs from
4:30 to 7 p.m.
The Refuge Nature Store has stocked special
READ MORE
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 Selects Installer
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Bailey's General Store co-owner Richard Johnson consults with Urban Solar's Michael Vergona about converting to solar power.
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SanCap Solar Connect, an initiative designed by "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society to save local residents money on solar energy conversion through collective buying power, announce
d the selection of Urban Solar Group as its commu
nity installer. "We received responses to our request for p
roposal from five different Florida firms,"
READ MORE
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New Refuge Nature Store Manager
Alison Conger feels she is living her late grandfather's legacy as she steps into the role of Nature Store Manager at "Ding" Darling. "His name was Howard Hendricks, and he volunteered here," Alison said. "He used to carry around a puppet named Pelican Pete to introduce to the children and other visitors." Alison takes over the position
READ MORE
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Welcome Refuge Interns
W
ith the federal budget currently restricting hiring, the Refuge is happy to welcome three new seasonal interns, thanks to funding from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society. Two new environmental education and one visitor services interns arrived
READ MORE
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Environmental education interns
Jenny Rieke and Jack Cholewa
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Visitor services intern
Leigh Gay |
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About 160 people have attended the first two Solar Community Meetings at the Refuge to learn more and ask questions.
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Next Solar Meeting December 3
SanCap Solar Connect's next free informational Solar Community meeting will take place on
Thursday, December 3, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. in the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center auditorium. No reservations are necessary to attend the meeting. Another meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at the same time and
READ MORE
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Just in time for holiday giving to the kids or grandkids:
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Adults who feel like kids modeling the fun kid's hats
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These adorable knit children's hats come in five st
yles - two different raccoons, a fox, a bear, and an owl.
They cost only $24 each. Visit, call (239-472-1100 ext. 241), or
email
to order yours. Remember, all proceeds from Refuge Nature Store purchases directly benefit wildlife and conservation at "Ding" Darling.
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High School Photography Contest Deadline January 1
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Savannah Crowe from Estero High took third place last year with this stunning capture.
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January 1, 2016, marks the deadline for 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
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Theodore Cross' coffee-table book of stunning bird portraits.
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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 Island and has family still living here
READ MORE
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Gearing Up for 2016 Tarpon Tourney
Last weekend,
"Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament competitor David Gresham went out to sharpen his skills, wearing last year's tourney shirt for good luck. With fellow angler Cliff Bridges (holding tarpon) and Captain Jim Patchett (photographer), the team pulled in a whopper. Watch for registration for the May 7 tourney
to open soon.
Thanks to our early sponsors for the 2016 Tournament.
To become a sponsor, please contact Birgie Miller at 239.292.0566
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Archives Online
Did you know you can access past editions of our quarterly newsletter, Society Pages, on our web site?
Click here for
an archive of newsletters. There's also an
archive of Ding" on the Wing bulletins online for your convenience.
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Discover "Ding" Contest
Our friends at Discover Nature Apps are running a contest through April 2016. Every
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Compete for a pair of quality binoculars and other prizes.
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visitor who downloads the app, takes a tour of the Wildlife Drive, and earns a R
oseate Spoonbill badge wins a cool "Give your phone the bird" shirt. 25+ likes for a wildlife sighting, photo, or score wins a Discover Nature hat. And the photo, sighting, or score with
the most likes will win a topnotch pair of binoculars. Look for more details available on the Discover Nature Apps Facebook page. So, download the app - available for both iPhone and Android devices - and come on over.
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Join Us on Social Media
Join our nearly 8,200 fans on Facebook by clicking the icon below. You will also find us on Instagram, where we post beautiful Refuge shots such as this. Help us make our goal of reaching 2,016 Instagram followers by 2016. Click the Instagram icon to view our content now.
Twitter fans can also follow us with the link below.
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Happy Hour Holiday Shopping
- December 3, 2015
Solar Community Meeting
- December 3, 2015
Friday Winter Lecture Series - January 8-April 15, 2016
Biweekly Winter Film Series
- January 13-April 6, 2016
Darling Is Back Film Sneak Peek - February 9, 2016
FILLED Stokes' Birding Tours
- February 19, 2016
Volunteer Luncheon - February 19,2016
Go Wild for "Ding" - Dance of the Reddish Egrets - February 23, 2016
Federal Junior Duck Stamp Judging at the Refuge/Earth Day - April 22, 2016
Fifth Annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament
- May 6-7, 2016
27th Annual "Ding" Darling Days - October 16-22, 2016
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Please plan to attend the Annual Business Meeting of the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society on Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. in the Refuge Visitor & Education Center.
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This season we are reminded to give thanks to friends and supporters of the Refuge. It is only with the help of generous people all over the country and the world that J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is able to to protect countless animals and their habitats.
Reddish Egret by Al Hoffacker; Marsh Rabbit by Bob Pelkey; American Robin by Bob Pelkey
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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,
Designed by Sarah Lathrop and interns Carrie Alexander and Anna Grubb
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