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Click the logo to learn more about our 45/82 Society and leaving "Ding" Darling in your estate.
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New Tarpon Bay Sign
The Refuge recently replaced the damaged sign at the mouth of Tarpon Bay, using federal hurricane funds.
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September 28: National Public Lands Day
The Refuge will celebrate National Public Lands Day and Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day on Saturday, September 28, 2019, with a beach clean-up at its Perry Tract and a free film showing. The day, also a designated fee-free day by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), will offer
free admission to Wildlife Drive
. A signature event of the National Environmental Education Foundation, National Public Lands Day promotes both recreational enjoyment and volunteer conservation of READ MORE
Click
here
for the flyer.
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Start your morning with a walk on the beach with purpose.
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October 1: Project Refuge Application Deadline
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| Artwork by Toni Ory |
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October 1 marks the deadline to submit an application as a designer for the
Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash
, a DDWS fundraiser for the Refuge and part of its
75th Anniversary Celebration
. DDWS is accepting up to 25 applications for fashion designs made from recycled and repurposed materials to be modeled on the runway on March 10, 2020, for the fashion show and "Twist Tie Optional Luncheon" that will take place at The Sanctuary Clubhouse on Sanibel Island. To date, 10 designers and designer teams have signed up. Eco-conscious conservationists, wannabe fashion designers, and READ MORE
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MaryBeth Greenplate and her mother Carol Strange are creating a rain ensemble from recycled plastic cards and other materials.
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Click HERE to print an application and to learn more.
We need sponsors for this exciting inaugural event on March 10, 2020? Click
HERE
or talk to Dot (239-472-1100 ext. 239.
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An artist's rendering of WoW's design
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DDWS recently received an anonymous challenge grant to help raise support to bring the Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels (WoW) project to fabrication. The grant will match donations made by December 31, 2019, dollar for dollar up to $50,000. "If the challenge is met, and we raise the additional $100,000, we will have nearly reached our goal of $255,000 for making WoW a reality and bringing it into underserved communities in
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Now's the time to be planning for year-end giving for tax write-off purposes in 2020. Please consider making your year-end donation in support of our WoW project and double your impact! Click
HERE and note "WoW" project or contact
Birgie Miller at 239-472-1100 ext. 4.
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Welcome New Education Intern
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Hannah Pauly
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Education intern Hannah Pauly recently joined the Refuge team to help with staffing shortages this school year, thanks to funding from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society. Hannah, a Chicago native, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May with a bachelor of science degree in community and environmental sociology and a certificate in sustainability. For a previous internship, she worked in
READ MORE
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Save the Date: Artist 'in Residence' Exhibition
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Ed Anderson's exhibition will include traditional format paintings and journal entries inspired by "Ding."
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During his
"in residency" stint at the Refuge
this summer, Idaho artist and angler Ed Anderson was inspired to create wildlife and scenery paintings and journal entries. He also painted with at-risk student groups, conducted journal art walks, and painted plein air on Wildlife Drive as part of the Refuge's
75th Anniversary Celebration
.
A special exhibition will display the work he created during his eight weeks at his studio on Sanibel Island, as well as others inspired by the wildlife of the Refuge. It will run from February 25 through March 31 in the Refuge Visitor & Education Center Auditorium. Thanks to
S. Kent Rockwell Foundation
for sponsoring Ed's Artist "in Residence" program.
Click
HERE
to read an article about Ed's time at the Refuge.
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New Water Research Equipment
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DDWS hopes to replace and update equipment to test water quality at the Refuge.
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The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society would like to support the replacement and updating of Refuge water-quality research equipment for ongoing studies at the Refuge. In-water instruments known as sondes measure various factors that help Refuge biologists determine the health of the water via logger systems. The current logger systems have become obsolete and will no longer be supported by the Refuge's current server at the end of this year. DDWS also wants to support updating the loggers, which will connect to a 4G network and send data to a new, cloud-based application that Refuge staff can all access in real time.
"We then report that data each week to the Army Corp of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District with a weekly report that is written in collaboration with the city of Sanibel, Lee County, SCCF, and Fort Myers Beach," said Senior Refuge Biologist Jeremy Conrad.
DDWS is looking for donations to support water-quality research
at "Ding" through the purchase of this equipment. Click
HERE
to make a donation in support of this effort. Thank you!
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The Impact of Florida Forever on the Refuge
by Sarah Ashton & Jim Metzler, DDWS Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs
Putting land into conservation helps in the battle to improve the quality of Florida's waterbodies in multiple ways. For one, land that is in conservation has lower levels of nutrients than land used for housing or agriculture, which reduces the flow of harmful nutrients into our water bodies. Also, conservation land can be used to support dispersed water management projects that store and/or clean water.
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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society's Advocacy Committee co-chairs Sarah Ashton and Jim Metzler recently attended a Sanibel City Hall reception with Florida Representative Ray Rodrigues. They had the opportunity to bring forth DDWS's concerns about water quality and quantity and the impact on the health and well-being of the Refuge. Pictured here: Sanibel city council member Richard Johnson, Representative Ray Rodrigues and his son Rhett, Jim Metzler, and Sarah Ashton.
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Every Kid Outdoors Program Extended for FREE pass
for 4th-grade students
The U.S. Department of Interior recently extended the
Every Kid Outdoors Program (formerly Every Kid in a Park) for another seven years.
The program grants fourth-grade students a free annual pass to visit more than 2,000 federal recreation areas - including J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge -- with their families, classmates, and friends.
To obtain the free pass, fourth-grade students visit the
Every Kid Outdoors website, participate in a short educational activity, and download a voucher. The voucher is valid for multiple uses between September 1, 2019, and August 31, 2020, to correspond to the traditional school year. The voucher may be exchanged for a keepsake pass at "Ding" Darling or other participating federal lands.
The voucher or pass allows free entry for fourth graders, all children under age 16 in the group, and up to three accompanying adults (or an entire car for drive-in public lands like "Ding") to most federally managed lands and waters. The pass does not cover amenity fees such as kayak rentals or boat rides.
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Merit Badge University 
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Bird Study is one of the skills Scouts can learn at Badge University. Register today - space is running out!
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On October 26, the Refuge will host its second annual Merit Badge University for registered Boy Scouts of America. Support for the program comes from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, LCEC, and
Tarpon Bay Explorers
, the Refuge's recreation concession. Scouts from around the nation will have the opportunity to earn up to two out of six badges being offered that day. They include Bird Study, Photography, Cycling, Kayaking, Fishing, and Fly Fishing. Class sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. The non-refundable, non-transferrable cost READ MORE
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Special thanks to LCEC for becoming a sponsor of Merit Badge University!
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October 20: 'Ding' Day Combines Art with Family Fun
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Two-time winner Scot Storm designed the 2019-2020 Federal Duck Stamp featuring live and decoy wood ducks.
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Chalk drawing demonstration and participation is one of the art activities planned for this year's "Ding" Day.
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Two-time Federal Duck Stamp winner Scot Storm will travel from Minnesota to headline the "Ding" Darling Day Duck Stamp Presentation on Sunday, October 20, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. He will sign stamps following his presentation. Florida Junior Duck Stamp winner Anna Grace Swanson from Titusville will also be on hand to meet and greet. "This year, we have folded Conservation Art Day together with 'Ding' Darling Day Family Fun Day," said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. "Besides honoring our winning duck stamp artists, we will be offering nature art with the addition of
READ MORE
Click
HERE
for a full schedule of the day's activities.
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Big thanks to all our generous
sponsors
, who make "Ding" Days possible.
Roseate Spoonbill Sponsor
Great Egret Sponsor
Great Blue Heron Sponsors
Reddish Egret Sponsors
Snowy Egret Sponors
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Smart & Chic Upcycling
Check out our newest line of recycled fashion accessories by Escama. In the spirit of our upcoming
Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash
, every product is made with 100% post-consumer recycled aluminum pull-tabs; some incorporate repurposed can bottoms. From credit card holders to shoulder bags and clutches, all items are satin-lined with color coordinated zipper. Each piece is handmade and signed by its fair-trade artist from a cooperative in Brazil. These catchy clutches are already a hit with visitors at The Nature Store. Get yours today; they are going fast.
Stop in today to pick up your handsome, earth-friendly new accessory. Or contact Nature Store Manager
Ann-Marie Wildman
at 239-472-1100 ext. 214 for information on mail-ordering store products.
Remember, members of "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society receive a 10% discount at the Nature Store. Profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs and wildlife research.
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In each issue of "Ding" on the Wing, we showcase one of the more than 560 refuges across the U.S.A.
Location:
Decatur, Alabama (35,000 acres)
Totemic Fauna:
Sandhill Crane, Whooping Crane
Visitor's Tip:
The annual Festival of Cranes occurs every January. The visitor center is open daily from October through February. From March through September, it is open Tuesday through Saturday.
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Images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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Whooping Cranes
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In each issue of "Ding" of the Wing, we share a quick tip on how you can turn your lifestyle greener. For more information on being environmentally aware, visit our
Go Green web page.
 Recycle Your Inflatables
Has summer left you with a pile of punctured and irreparable water inflatables? PVC is rarely collected from households for recycling, but there is an opportunity to give this plastic a second life short of ending up in our waterways.
Wyatt & Jack Inflatable Amnesty
turns them into waterproof bags. It even will reimburse you for postage.
Doing Our Part to Reduce Plastic
"Ding" Darling is committed to and has led the way on the islands in reducing the single-use plastic products that plague our planet and threaten wildlife. Thanks to DDWS' efforts, we have eliminated plastic shopping bags and one-time-use plastic water bottles in the Refuge Nature Store and at Tarpon Bay Explorers' gift shop. In recent years, the Refuge has also installed a filtered water refill station and DDWS has transitioned to compostable plates, cups, and flatware for event use. We have a no-straws policy.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings
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Photo by: Sylvia Guarino
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It always catches the eye to find a perfect reflection. This Tri-colored Heron is showing lots of hues. Thank you to Sylvia Guarino.
T
o see more wildlife photos click on our social media links:
If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Officer
Sierra Hoisington
, for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Stay tuned as our calendar of special activities to celebrate the Refuge's 75th anniversary grows and flourishes through 2020. |
"Ding" Darling World Animal Day
- October 4, 2019
Christmas in October at the Community House
- October 12, 2019
Museum Shopping Sunday
- December 1, 2019
Unveiling of "Ding" Studio Exhibit & Duck Stamp Mural
- December 2, 2019
75th Anniversary Holiday Shopping Night
- December 3, 2019
75th Anniversary Film Series
- January 8-April 1, 2020
Endangered Species Day at the Refuge
- May 15, 2020
Official 75th
Anniversary Celebration
- December 1, 2020
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These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our
website to learn more!
Sincerely,
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by Christopher Gutierrez & April Boehnen.
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