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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
January 7, 2016
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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 or they will be given to those waiting shortly thereafter. 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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Reddish Egret
Photo by Terry Baldwin
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Reddish Egret Morph
Photo by Terry Baldwin
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2016 Lecture Series begins TOMORROW! January 8: Calusa Lecture
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 ho
w 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
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Cindy Bear, programs and service coordinator at Randell
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CLICK HERE
to view the season's lecture series schedule.
Thank you to our 2016
Lecture Series Sponsors
&
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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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| Learn all about beach creatures and shells during Beach Walk, held every Friday at 9:30 a.m. |
Free Winter Programs Underway
From birding and biking the Refuge, to learning about manatees and birds of prey, the seasonal calendar of
free programs and tours at "Ding" Darling
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 20: The Cove
The controversial film The Cove continues the fourth annual "Ding" Darling Wednesday Film Series on January 20, 2016, at 2:30 p.m. in the Visitor & Education Center. Academy Award winner for Best Documentary of 2009, the 96-minute film follows a group of activists as they embark on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, and shed light on a dark and deadly secret that is threatening the dolphin
Note: The film contains graphic scenes that may be inappropriate for
ch
ildren.
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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.
Click
HERE to register online.
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, with more than $50,000 going directly to benefit the Refuge.
 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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Make plans
NOW to attend the February event where all proceeds go to benefit the conservation efforts at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Only 220 seats available for what was a sold out event last year. Reservations are required.
Live auction headliners for the
February 23
Go Wild for 'Ding' - Dance of the Reddish Egret event include a Reddish Egret head necklace slide carved by Jim Sprankle, plus a number of other unique items for the live and silent auction. Stay tuned for news of more auction items.
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| This hand-carved and -painted Reddish Egret slider by Jim Sprankle goes on the auction block at Go Wild. |
"Eggstra" Special Chance Drawing!
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Take a chance and purchase an "egg"to win a hand carved Jim Sprankle feather which will be of a Reddish Egret. You do not have to attend the event to win.
Click Here to make reservations to attend the event and have the option to purchase a chance to win the Sprankle feather.
Click Here if you can't attend, but would still like a chance to win an amazing one of a kind carved Sprankle feather.
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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.
Champion Level:
Mark & Gretchen Banks; John & Kathy McCabe;
Guardian Level:
Defender Level:
Bailey's General Store
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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
,
Glen & Phyllis Gresham
To become a sponsor, please contact Birgie Miller by
email
or phone (239-292-0566).
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Discover Ding Contest
Our friends at Discover Nature Apps are running a contest through April 2016.
 Every visitor who downloads the app, takes a tour of the Wildlife Drive, and earns a Roseate 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 top-quality 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. Click here to download today.
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Tweet is our "sweet" product of the week: This LED bike light and horn combo is
the perfect gift for any age cyclist. Bright and water resistant, the LED bicycle headlight features both flashing and steady functions with a delightful bird chirp/twitter warning horn to tweet your way through traffic. #TooCuteForWords
The headlight, on a slide bar mounting system, allows you to remove the bird and use it as a flashlight for hikes. It requires three AAA batteries (not included) and retails for $24.99 Choose from three colors: red, blue, or yellow.
Email or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 to order your Sweet Tweet today.
Remember, proceeds from all Nature Store purchases directly benefit Refuge wildlife, plus research and education projects.
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BIG thanks to Paul McKenney for his Refuge photos below. If you have taken any great photos at the Refuge, send them to Society intern Carrie Alexander for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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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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