Welcoming Sierra for Second Intern Term

     Sierra Hoisington has re-upped her internship commitment with the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society for another year. Originally from Tega Cay, South Carolina, and a graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor's degree in wildlife and fisheries biology, Sierra joined the DDWS team last fall.

     "It has been exciting to watch Sierra grow and take on new responsibilities this past year," said DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller. "We are so happy she has decided to stay and further grow her job description in helping us support the Refuge."

     "I'm very excited to extend my experience and increase my knowledge with a variety of new projects such as the film series and photography contests," said Sierra.

"Ding" Days Highlights

	"Ding" Days 2017 features a butterfly house and a day devoted to butterflies and bees.

Family, hiking, art, bees and butterflies, Calusa, and beach and water: This year's "Ding" Darling Days  , October 15-21, 2017, devotes one day each to topics relevant to the "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The event honors National Wildlife Refuge Week and celebrates the 141 st birthday of the Refuge's namesake, father of the Duck Stamp, on Saturday, October 21.

Family Fun Day, October 15, kicks off the weeklong birding and eco-festival with all-free activities including narrated Refuge tram tours, live animal READ MORE

Another Hautman Wins Duck Stamp Contest!

     The third Hautman brother in three years won the 2017 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point this week. Bob Hautman's acrylic painting of a pair of mallards will be made into the 2018-19 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or duck stamp, which will go on sale in June 2018.

     Hautman's third win in the prestigious contest, his art previously appeared on the 1997-98 and 2001-02 stamps. Brothers Jim and Joe each have won the contest five times. Jim Hautman is the reigning duck stamp winner for 2017-2018 and will be appearing at "Ding" Darling Days'  Conservation Art Day on October 21.

     Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, our Refuge's namesake, created the Federal Duck Stamp Program as a means to raise money to purchase conservation lands in 1934. An award-winning political cartoonist, he designed the first duck stamp.

Click here  to read more.

Film Series Sneak Peak

The 2018 Biweekly Wednesday Film Series will air seven documentaries, sponsored by Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts, and runs January 10 through April 4. First up, Wings of Life , narrated by Meryl Streep and produced by Disneynature, 

celebrates butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, bats, and flowers. One of the season's highlights, Chasing Coral , explores the beauty of coral and its fragility and future in a changing climate.

Stay tuned to our website  and "Ding" on the Wing bulletins for upcoming news about the film series.

Project #LearningLav

Phase II of our new restroom interpretive exhibits resume this week as artist David Williams returns after the hurricane to continue work on the outdoor 3D mural. He will be mounting lightweight wildlife sculptures to depict an underwater scene. They will join the mother and baby manatee "sculptires" installed in May by local

	Staff  and artist David William (red shirt) show off some of the critter sculptures that will be looking down upon you in an underwater mural setting.

artist Andrew Corke, who fashioned them out of recycled bicycle tires.  

Inside both restrooms, David will also paint murals that give visitors the illusion of being underwater. Photographic tile murals installed earlier this month feature an image of a mangrove landscape taken at the Refuge.

Funded by a grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) and contributions from private donors, Project #LearningLav will create educational messaging inside the lavatories and on the outdoor wall leading to them. Simple teaser messages and artistic representations of mangroves, manatees, sea turtles, fish, and birds are meant to entice visitors into the Visitor & Education Center to learn more.

Don't miss our "toilet paper-cutting ceremony" for the #LearningLav exhibit on "Ding" Days' Family Fun Day , October 15.

DDWS would like to thank members of the project planning committee for their insights and imagination: Staff Carrie Alexander, Jeff Combs, Sierra Hoisington, Emily Koval, Sarah Lathrop, Birgie Miller, Paul Tritaik, Chelle Walton, and Toni Westland; and volunteers Andrea Connors, Amy Herd, Kathy McCabe, Jen McSorley, Sheridan Snell, and Christine Szymanczyk.

Thanks to all of our sponsors who are making "Ding" Days possible:

 

ROSEATE SPOONBILL SPONSORS: 

GREAT EGRET SPONSORS:

 

 

GREAT BLUE HERON SPONSORS: 

           

         

REDDISH EGRET SPONSORS: 

Sarah Ashton & Jim Metzler, In Memory of Roger Bell,  Blu Site Solutions, Art & Susan Cassell, Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry, Jerry Edelman and Maryann Daly, Sally & Rich Ennis, Florida Weekly, Phyllis Gresham,  Grounds by GreenWays, Intech Printing & Direct Mail,  Island Inn, Jensen's on the Gulf and Marina & Cottages, Mitchell's Sand Castles, Muench Families & Periwinkle Park,  Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club , David Schuldenfrei - Realtor & Roberta Schuldenfrei,  Stewart and Sons Insurance, Inc. , TopBirdingTours.com , 

SNOWY EGRET SPONSORS: 

Absolute Pressure, Inc., Ambu Yoga,  Barefoot Charley's Painting Co., Big Red Q Quickprint, Colony Inn, Island Therapy Center,  Marina Customer Service Training, Sanibel School Steel Drumming Band, George & Wendy Schnapp, Jim & Anne Scott, www.seashells.com, Vasanta Senerat CPA, PA, Winston & Barbara Spurgeon, 

Tents 'n' Events,  Chelle Koster Walton.

Featured 'Ding' Days Sponsor:

      The Muench Families &Periwinkle Park joins sponsors for  "Ding" Darling Days for the first time, at the Reddish Egret Level. DDWS co-presents the 29th annual birding and eco-festival, which will draw more than 6,000 visitors to the Refuge the week of  October 15-21, 2017.

     A destination campground park on Sanibel Island, Periwinkle Park offers accommodations for campers from motorhomes to tents and everything in between, only a 10-minute walk away from the beach.

Senior Pass Rate Increase

The lifetime pass  America the Beautiful  for seniors ages 62 and older increased from $10 to $80 on August 28 , 2017. During the last weeks while the $10 fee was still in effect, sales at The Nature Store jumped drastically. Staff reports selling more than 5,000 of the passes in the past month. Eighty percent of the sales will directly benefit "Ding" Darling Refuge.

"The $80 pass is still a bargain, because it gets you into more than 2,000 national wildlife refuges, parks, monuments, and other federal lands," said Nature Store Manager Jeanne Walsh. "Take into consideration that most national parks charge up to $30 per vehicle for one-time admission."

To read Jeanne's report about the rush to buy passes this summer and her thanks to all involved, please click here.

NOTE : The Nature Store will be closed all day Friday, September 29, for inventory.

     Your accessories will hit the right note with

Sea Lily Piano Wire Jewelry, just in! Handmade from real piano wire, the necklaces, bracelets, and earrings feature a heavy-duty magnetic fastener and often one or more pearl accents. They make the perfect gift for music-lovers and stylish fashionistas.  

     Stop in and pick up your jewelry today. Or contact Store Manager Jeanne Walsh  at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for more information about mail-ordering these and other featured products.

Remember, proceeds from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs and wildlife research.

Save the Date

The Refuge celebrates National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 30. Enjoy free admission to Wildlife Drive all day and participate in other free activities that include a guided beach walk, recycled wildlife crafts, and a free showing of the film Addicted to Plastic. All participants receive a free yearlong pass to all national public lands - including the more than 560 national wildlife refuges across the U.S. - and a free Kick the Bottle reusable water container with a $5 or more purchase in the Nature Store (upon request). Watch next week's "Ding" on the Wing and our website for the day's schedule.