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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
May 12, 2016
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Do you want your friends and family to see what's happening at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island? Forward this newsletter to them, and help them stay up-to-date with "Ding" on the Wing.
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Tarpon Bay Explorers is looking for USCG Captains to drive back-bay fishing charters. Applicants must have at least a 6-pack license to apply and need to be familiar with local waters and fishing. Fun place to work in the heart of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Part time. Seasonal and annual. Position(s) available immediately. Please drop off or email resume and copy of license. Call (239)472-8900 for more details. |
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2016  "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tourney
That's a wrap!
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Team Chasin' Poon hooked the first tarpon and took home a check for $12,037.50. Pictured here: Team members Gary Biltgen, Matt Mitchell, Mary Laser, and Wade Roberts. |
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Anglers waiting around the starting boat from
Diversified Yacht Services. Teams were called in numerical order beginning at first light
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The good news:
The prize winnings for 3rd, 4th, and 5th were not awarded, and as a result more than $7,000 will roll into the winning purse for the sixth annual tournament, which is tentatively scheduled for May 20, 2017.
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Team Teaser came in second place by reeling in the second (and final) tarpon catch of the day.
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Stay tuned for more pictures and news about the tournament. A HUGE thanks to our sponsors and auction donors for making it a fundraising success for the conser-vation efforts at the Refuge!
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CLICK HERE to see photos from the Tarpon Tournament
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One last whopper "thank you" to our sponsors for making this event such a fundraising success!
Title Sponsor:
Presenting Sponsor:
Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
Shoreline Lumber
,
Bailey's General Store
,
Semmer Electric
,
Bonita Bill's Waterfront Cafe
,
R.S. Walsh Landscaping
,
Must Do Visitor Guides
, Don Wildman,
Sanibel Air
,
Key West Express,
Gulf Star Marina
,
Discovery Senior Living
,
The Island Sand Paper
 The silent auction was a huge success, with ALL proceeds going directly toward conservation efforts at the Refuge. Thank you to all of our silent auction donors for their support.
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Joyce & Ken
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Refuge staff and volunteers and Society staff and board members gathered on the causeway to bid farewell to two well-loved Refuge staff members.
Deputy Refuge Manager Joyce Palmer, a long-time employee and respected administrator, departs on May 27 to take the position of Refuge Manager and Project Leader at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.
Located north of Tampa in Florida, the refuge is known for its population of Florida Manatees. We will miss her dearly and wish her all the best in her new position.
Administrative Assistant
Ken Petrie retires on May 13. He assures us we will see him volunteering around the Refuge. The best of luck!
(Left) The Refuge and Society Staff saying a big farewell to our departing team members.
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 FREE Summer Programs
Wildlife Wonders talks, weekly walks, and nature crafts highlight the free summer programming to be offered at the Refuge June 19 through August 6, 2016. Summer programming is made possible by support from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS).
(Left) Guided hikes along Indigo Trail to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk teach families about Refuge wildlife and its habitat.
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 Business Donations: Win-Win-Win
We recently received a letter from Sue Thoresen, who purchased a charter with Captain Ben Biery's
Cast About Charters at our February Go Wild for "Ding" fundraiser. She was thrilled with her purchase, and Capt. Ben scored too with repeat business and references. And we raised support money for the Refuge. Wins all around!
She writes: "[My granddaughter
] wanted to hire Ben with her birthday money just to fish the next day. They left this afternoon and definitely want to hire him next year. I gave him a referral on the beach this morning
....
This was a wonderful donation he made which supported 'Ding' Darling and our
family loved the day."
Thank you to those who donate to and purchase from our silent auction fundraisers!
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Refuge Acquires Education Coyote Mount
Refuge and Society staff and volunteers recently accepted a mounted coyote as a gift from Ken Colter (second from left) of American Gallery Homes, Sanibel Island. "It is such a well-executed mount. I see it as an excellent teaching tool about native and invasive species. Because of limited space in the Education & Visitor Center, we will find room to have it available for special educational programs," said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland (far right). "It will also assist island biology teams who are studying the impact this species has on island wildlife and resources. A big thanks to Ken, who specifically requested it be used for educational purposes."
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In this edition of "Ding" on the Wing, we introduce a regular feature, in accordance with the Refuge Association's new
"America's Best-Kept Secret"
initiative to re-brand the refuge system and encourage a new generation and demographic of visitors.
Recently, Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland attended a conference at
Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
to determine strategy. The new program will target 20 to 30 refuges that are in urban areas, most-visited, or gateway refuges.
Each "Ding" of the Wing, our Refuge staff will recommend one of these pillar refuges in the hopes to whet your interest in the most significant and visitable refuges among the more than 560 refuges across America.
This month Toni recommends:
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Mule deer with Denver's skyline in the background. Photo credit: Michael Mauro.
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Location: Commerce City, Colorado (10 minutes from downtown Denver)
Size: 17,000 acres
Totemic fauna: American Bison (reintroduced in 2007)
Don't miss: Black-footed ferret exhibit behind the visitor center. This endangered species was thought to be extinct twice in the 20th century.
Fun for the family: Free Visitor Center that opened in 2011
Visitor's tip: Bison calves are born in April each year. If you can plan your trip to see this event, it's worth it!
Toni says: "What a success story, the land has survived the test of time. It has transitioned from farmland, to a war-time manufacturing site to a wildlife sanctuary."
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This Land Is Your Land
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society has undertaken a campaign to acquire more than 8 acres
on Sanibel Island's Wulfert Road as a crucial wildlife corridor for the "Ding" Darling Refuge. We must raise $2 million in private funds to purchase the parcel, which lies between SCCF land and the Refuge.
Donors have already committed more than $600,000 of needed funds, so the goal is to raise the remaining $1.4 million by February 2017
. If not preserved by the Refuge, the land could be developed with as many as five dwellings and
READ MORE
Reddish Egrets (photo by Theresa Baldwin) and Smalltooth Sawfish are a few of the creatures that will be protected on this land.
To make a gift or multi-year pledge or for more information, contact DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 or by
email.
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How well do you know your warblers? Can you correctly identify all 4 of these species? Use your bird guides for reference if you need to --Answers below!
Thanks to Sylvia Guarino for the beautiful photos!
Top left: Palm Warbler; Top right: Cape May Warbler
Bottom left:Black-and-white Warbler; Bottom right: Hooded Warbler
T
o see more wildlife photos, click on our social media links:
If
you have taken any beautiful, interesting,
or just plain goofy photos taken 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 Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by Sarah Lathrop and interns Carrie Alexander and Anna Grubb
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