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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
December 10, 2015
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Click logo below to make a reservation to attend the Feb. 23 event (Reservations are Required)
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Event Sponsorships still available.
CALL Birgie at 239.292.0566 to join those below:
Current Sponsors for the 2016 Go Wild for "Ding" - Dance of the Reddish Egret include:
Champion Level:
Mark & Gretchen Banks
Guardian Level:
Protector Level:
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EGGstra Special Chance Drawing for a Sprankle feather
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| Sculptor Jim Sprankle and DDWS president Doris Hardy with a nest of "eggs" |
It has become a tradition at our annual winter fund raising event to auction off a carved feather pin and membership in the
Jim Sprankle Feather Club
, named for the feathers' sculptor and 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
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Reddish Egret
Photo by Wayne Kliewer
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Click here
for links to pages where you can make reservations and purchase drawing chances
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Area angler, Cliff Young, holding a Little Tunny caught off the gulf coast of Sanibel wearing his lucky "Ding" Darling Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament Shirt.
The 5th Annual Tarpon Tournament is scheduled for May 7, 2016
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Family Field Trip Outreach
"Ding" Darling dedicated four weekends in November and December to transporting and hosting families from local economically challenged neighborhoods to learn about the Refuge and its wildlife and habitat. Targeted areas included Tice, Harlem Heights, and Immokalee. The Refuge treated families - nearly 100 visitors in all - to hikes, tram tours, and family crafts with Spanish interpreters on hand. Thanks to the LAT Foundation,
Wells Fargo, and
Tarpon Bay Explorers for their support of this program, in keeping with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's mission to serve the underserved.
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The Annual Business Meeting of the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society took place on December 2, 2015, at the Refuge Visitor & Education Center. Members re-elected Sarah Ashton, Jim Hall, Jim Scott, and Dan Wexler to the Board of Directors.
Click here
to view the 2015 Annual Report from the meeting.
The DDWS Board of Directors elected its officers for 2016: (clockwise from lower left) President Doris Hardy, Vice President Mike Baldwin, Secretary Jim Scott, and Treasurer Vasanta Senerat.
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Next Solar Meeting January 12
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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Refuge Advocacy
This week, "Ding" Darling hosted Florida State Representative Matt Caldwell, District 79 (second from left), to introduce him to the Refuge and the importance of issues affecting local water quality at the Refuge and surrounding Sanibel and Captiva islands. Also pictured: Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik, DDWS President Doris Hardy, and City of Sanibel's James Evans.
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Woodring Clearing
Work was completed last week on clearing exotics from the 20/20 Conservation portion of the Woodring property acquired as Refuge land on Tarpon Bay in 2013. Lee County and its 20/20 program partnered with the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society on conserving the land and preserving its wildlife.
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Kids Fishing Derby 2015
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Holiday Gifts for Men
Shop for the guys on your list at the Refuge Nature Store. Some fun, nature-oriented ideas: Fishing-themed apron ($24.99) for the chef in the family; gifts made of recycled bicycle inner tubes such as a men's wallet
($45),
key chains ($9.99) and a shaving kit ($45); and fish-shaped bottle
openers ($9.99). Remember, all proceeds from Nature Store purchases directly benefit habitat, wildlife, and education at
"Ding" Darling.
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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 Island and has family still living here READ MORE
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| Your year-end gift helps ensure a happy new year for Refuge wildlife. Photo by Al Hoffacker |
As 2015 draws to a close, 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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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.
Here
she talks about roseate spoonbills.
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HighTower Advisors
Fort Myers, along with islanders Mike and Terry Baldwin, will be sponsoring the
2016 "Ding" Darling Nature Store Friday Lecture Series
at J.N. "Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island this winter season. The free 13-lecture series kicks off on Friday, Jan. 8
READ MORE
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HighTower representatives Jack Thomas (far left) and Trevor Swartz (right) recently presented Sarah Lathrop, DDWS Assistant Director, and Birgie Miller, DDWS Executive Director, funds to sponsor the 2016 Friday Lecture Series.
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Wildlife Sightings & Tides
(Top) Great Egrets
(Middle) Tricolored Heron
(Bottom) Ring-billed Gull
Thanks to Bob Pelkey for all the great photos! If you have photos taken at the Refuge, email them to intern Carrie Alexander for a chance to see them featured them in our Wildlife Sightings section!
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