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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
April 14, 2016
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Mangrove Cuckoos, such as this elusive one photographed by Tom Miller, have been spotted recently at the Refuge.
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Lecture Tomorrow April 15
Hiking the Florida Trail
Learn "How To Hike the Florida Trail" from the authors of
The Florida Trail Guide, Sandra Friend and John Keatley. The authors, both life members of the Florida Trail Association, will present two programs beginning at
10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2016, in the Visitor & Education Center. The year 2016 marks the
50th anniversary of the statewide Florida Trail. The husband-wife team of Sandra and John have updated their guidebook to the trail for the occasion, building on a strong, award-winning
READ MORE
Thanks to our 2016 Lecture Series sponsors!
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Lecture Videos on YouTube
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Watch last week's lecture about urban refuges here
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Have you been disappointed when turned away from a Friday lecture in our packed auditoriums? Then you will be happy to know you can still see lectures you may have missed. Though we have tried to solve our popularity problem by increasing the number of Friday lectures from one to two (at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.), our audience still packs the house. To solve the problem, we are now uploading videos of the lectures on
the DDWS YouTube channel.
Look for them early the week following the lecture on YouTube and in "Ding" on the Wing.
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 Lectures 2017: Suggestions?
As we approach the end of our highly successful 2016 Friday Lecture season, we are already making plans for next year's calendar. If you know of a nature author or photographer or an expert in any wildlife or conservation related field who might be available to lecture, please send us your suggestions by
clicking here.
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'Ding' Places for Aquatic Life
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Junior Duck Stamp: Something to Quack About
The public is invited to attend the judging of the Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Contest at "Ding" Darling in celebration of Earth Day on
Friday, April 22, 2016
. This is a first-ever event for the Refuge, which annually hosts the contest judging at the state level. "This is beyond exciting!" said Ranger Becky Larkins, the Refuge Education Specialist who
READ MORE
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(Above) Megan Zou from Miami won Florida Best-of-Show in the Junior Duck Stamp contest held last month at the Refuge. Her art will join that of contestants from all over the U.S. at the Federal JDS contest at "Ding" Darling.
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Help Save Our Island!
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society has undertaken a campaign to acquire
8.15 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 $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
The Mangrove Cuckoo (image by Geri Biggs) and Gopher Tortoise (image by Terry Baldwin) are a few of the special creatures the Wulfert Road acquisition will protect.
(Left) Thank you to longtime Sanibel residents Ed and Lynn Ridlehoover (pictured with Refuge and Society Board and staff members), who recently pledged their support to this land acquisition campaign. They are also distributing more than 150 informational flyers to neighbors and friends.
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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April 29:
Deadline for Day Camp
April 29, 2016, marks the deadline for the second annual
Nature Explorers Summer Day Camp, which runs six weeks this year starting June 20. Campers can apply for one five-day session.
Click here for more information and an application.
(Right) Day campers spend time on Sanibel's beaches learning to fish.
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Mark your Calendar to attend the Smithsonian Water/Ways Exhibit this Fall coming to "Ding" Darling!
Mark your calendars for
October 29 through December 9
for an exciting Water/Ways traveling exhibit in partnership with the
Museum on Main Street
(MoMS) program supported by The Smithsonian and Florida Humanities Council.
In design right now, the first-
of-its-kind Water/Ways will visit only six locations in Florida, including "Ding" Darling.
 Water/Ways will take a global look at water relative to the environment, culture, and history. It will also examine the issues and context facing our liquid assets here at home. The Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild is planning an artful water and nature exhibition during the event. The six-week exhibit will also collaborate with other San-Cap Road nature and art organizations for a special calendar of events that will include speakers, tours, a film series, and unique exhibits.
Thanks to
LCEC for a $4,000 environmental funding award to support special
programming to accompany the exhibit.
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With 100% of boat registration fees for the "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament going toward the awards purse, the only w
ays we are able to raise funds for conservation efforts at the Refuge are through the tournament's silent auction and sponsorships. We are currently seeking more auction donations.
To make a donation or become a sponsor, please
email
or call Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 to donate and help the Society.
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Thank you to our Sponsors!
Thanks to our tourney sponsors.
Title Sponsor:
Presenting Sponsor:
Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsor:
Shoreline Lumber,
Bailey's General Store, Captiva Diva,
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
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This week's featured tarpon tourney sponsors
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Trail cameras at the Refuge captured these stunning Bobcat photos.
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Swallow-tailed Kite by Mike Dougherty
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Immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron by Sylvia Guarino
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To see more wildlife photos like these, 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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Smithsonian Water/Ways Exhibit - October 29-December 9, 2016
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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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