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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
October 8, 2015
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Are You Ready for
Sunday Family Fun Day kicks off the 26th
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Kids enjoy playing the drums and other instruments in the Musical Garden.
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"Ding" Darling Days at the Refuge on October 18, 2015. The Refuge and "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society have planned a free day (a $75 value for a family of four) packed with activities for all ages including
Wild Puppets!,
live animal presenta- tions, free Refuge tram tours and
READ MORE
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Archery clinics teach skills to kids ages 10 and older.
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For
a f
ull cal
endar of events during "Ding" Days week, October 18-24, please
click here
.
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Sanibel Rice Rat Update
From researcher Wesley Boone: "Researchers from the University of Florida, working in collaboration with J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR, SCCF, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the City of Sanibel, have completed the first of six field seasons investigating the ecology of
Sanibel Island rice rats (
Oryzomys palustris sanibeli
). Their research aims to fill data gaps pertinent to the conservation of this unique subspecies found only on Sanibel Island."
Researchers also report that they live-trapped 54 different areas around the islands and came up with nine captures that they tagged and returned to their habitat. Research for season two will begin this December.
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| Sanibel Holiday, fittingly enough, was the first to purchase this year's holiday cards. As in the past, they bought six sets to send to customers. |
Refuge Holiday Cards on sale NOW
Send a message of wildlife this holiday season with our 2015 Holiday Card set
featuring six stunning Refuge bird portraits.
Pick up your set of 18 cards and envelopes today or order at 239-472-1100 ext. 241.
Cost is $15.99 plus shipping.
Click here
to view the entire set. And remember: Proceeds from all Refuge Nature Store purchases directly benefit conservation, education, and wildlife at the Refuge.
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Teddy Roosevelt (reprisor Joe Wiegand) honored Mary Lou with a stuffed teddy on a visit to the Refuge a number of years ago.
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Refuge Loses a Faithful Friend
On September 10, 2015, longtime volunteer and generous donor
Mary Lou Schadt passed away at age 91 in Cassopolis, Michigan. A volunteer for more than 30 years, Mary Lou put in 3,186 hours as a Refuge Rover and in other capacities. One of her proudest Refuge moments was guiding then President Jimmy Carter through the Refuge. She will also be remembered for her gracious support of the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Scholarship Program.
"Mary Lou was a great teacher of shorebird identification," said Ranger Jeff Combs, volunteer coordinator. "She helped many volunteers learn what characteristics to look for and made the classes very fun. She will be greatly missed here at 'Ding' Darling."
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| MaryLou Schadt opened her home to a visiting Russian delegation to "Ding" Darling. She was always willng to do anything she could do to help the Refuge AND have fun doing it! Pictured above is Mary Lou with representatives of the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Russian Delegation. |
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| Mary Lou (L) with current volunteer Marilyn Kloosterman |
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| Ranger Toni with the Tanglewood team, her daughters (Tanglewood students), and the Blue Goose. |
Ranger Toni Videos
Toni Westland, our "super" Supervisory Refuge Ranger, has been working with Tanglewood Elementary School in Fort Myers to create conservation education videos that the students watch each Friday morning to encourage them to get outdoors over the weekend. Click on the video below
to view her premiere about sea turtles.
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Every Kid in a Park 'Ding' Days Sign-up
Fourth graders: Be sure to pick up your free
Every Kid in a Park pass
on Family Fun Day on October 18 at the Refuge. Bring a completed voucher from the web site or print one out at the front desk in the Refuge Visitor & Education Center. Then you merely have to take the voucher to the Wildlife Drive fee booth for a pass that allows you and your family free admission to the Refuge (and all other federal public lands, including all 562 wildlife refuges) through August 2016.
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Sanibel School 4th graders showing off their new FREE annual pass
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Click here to see a Refuge video about the program.
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Reddish
Egret by
Craig Goettsch
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Keep The Reddish Egret Dancing
Your donations to the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society are crucial. Any amount helps ensure that future generations continue to enjoy the unspoiled lands, waters, and wildlife of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Making a charitable contribution is easy and tax deductible.
Click here
to make a gift.
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Have you had an unforgettable Refuge experience? Please be sure to rate us and comment on
TripAdvisor
.
Here's a recent 5-star rating:
"
VISIT FOR ALL. Great visitor center and gift store. Lots of information, kid friendly. Huge area to drive or ride a bike around. Visitor center free. To drive, take tram or ride through the acreage, there is a fee."
Bennett H, Penn Valley, California, September 27, 2015
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Stokes Birding Tour
Friday, February 19, 2016
Only 20 spaces remain
Click below to make your reservation today
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Big thanks to Patty MacInnis for capturing these beautiful photos of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron (left) and a gator spotted lazily crossing Calusa Shell Mound Trail.
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CLICK HERE for a full calendar of events and programs!
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'Ding' Days Sponsorship
Please be sure to thank and patronize our loyal sponsors:
Roseate Spoonbill Sponsor:
Great Egret Sponsors:
Great Blue Heron Sponsors:
97.7 Latino & Juan Radio,
Arthur Printing,
Bailey's General Store, Mike & Terry Baldwin,
Bank of the Islands,
Island Sun,
Jensen's Island Resort & Marina,
Jerry's Foods,
Mitchell's Sand Castles,
Ocean's Reach Condominiums,
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank,
Sanibel Moorings,
Spotlight Graphics
,
Jim & Patty Sprankle,
Sanibel-Captiva Beach Resorts
Reddish Egret Sponsors:
Sarah Ashton
& Jim Metzler,
Big Red Q Quickprint
, Casa Ybel Resort, Sally & Rich Ennis, Florida Weekly, Glen & Phyllis Gresham, Gulf Breeze Cottages, Painting with a Twist, Ed & Lynn Ridlehoover,
Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club,
Stewart and Sons Insurance, Inc.,
West Wind Inn
Snowy Egret Sponsors
:
Barefoot Charley's Painting Co., Butterfly Estates, Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP), Colony Inn; Jerry Edelman & Maryanne Daly, Grounds by Green Ways, Dave Horton, Island Therapy Center Sanibel,Over Easy Cafe, Sally Rich, Sanibel Art & Frame, She Sells Sea Shells,Winston & Barbara Spurgeon, Suncatchers' Dream, Tents 'n' Events; Santiva Chronicle
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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!
Click here for a full calendar of events and programs.
Sincerely,
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