December 9, 2021

New Nature Store Manager

Christopher Galloway recently accepted a promotion with DDWS from Nature Store Assistant Manager to Manager of its two physical and one online stores. Chris began working for DDWS in December 2016 and has also held the position as assistant office manager, plus assists in IT matters, including leading the set-up of ShopDingDarling.com last year. He steps into the position formerly held by Ann-Marie Wildman, who will be moving into new roles within the nonprofit organization.

“I feel privileged to have this fantastic team to work with, and I’m really excited to continue working to not only support the Refuge through store sales, but to be stewards for the Refuge in communicating with visitors to our stores,” said Chis. “We’ve made great strides in the past couple of years despite challenges, and I anticipate that we will continue pushing forward in our efforts.”

When COVID-19 shut down the original flagship Refuge Nature Store in the Visitor & Education Center in 2020, the DDWS team moved ahead to promote its fledgling e-commerce site and open a second store at 2250 Periwinkle Way, which also serves as a fulfillment center for online orders.

“Chris, Ann-Marie, senior assistant manager Carrie Harmon, and part-time assistant Laura Denick have taken our retail operation to a new high in past years at a time when the Refuge needs even more support than usual due to staff shortages and pandemic restrictions,” said DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller. “Chris has become an invaluable member of the DDWS team in so many ways, we are excited to see him continue in a heightened leadership role.”

Wild Daze Ale Island Events

As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, DDWS rolled out its exclusive, limited-edition Wild Daze Ale at Fort Myers Brewing Co. last weekend, with island events to follow throughout the month. The first two take place Wednesday and Thursday with tastings at Bailey’s from 2 to 6 p.m. Refuge representatives will also be on hand at the Sanibel Farmer’s Market on Sunday, December 12 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. promoting Wild Daze and other Refuge programs and projects.

The exclusive brew – a smooth and light-bodied golden ale with a subtle hint of sweetness – will be available for a limited time of around six months after its rollout, depending upon how long supplies last. Besides Bailey’s, look for Wild Daze Ale at, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts, (Tween Waters Pool Bar and Normandie Pool bar) and The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market.

Mark your calendar for these events at Bailey’s:

December 18 tasting with WoW mobile experience, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
December 19 tasting with WoW mobile experience, 10 a.m.-3 p.m

Little Blue Heron Research

Researchers from the Harte Research Institute of Texas A &M Corpus Christi are currently conducting research on Little Blue Herons at the Refuge, supported by “Ding” Darling, which is providing housing during their stay. Little Blue Herons and other wading birds have been used as indicator species for a variety of wetland ecosystems because they provide clear and rapid responses to changes in environmental conditions. Compared to other species, Little Blue Heron movement patterns outside of the breeding season are poorly understood. PhD student Alexander Sharp and field technician Asch McDonnell are capturing, banding, and deploying solar-powered satellite transmitters on Little Blue Herons wintering at the Refuge. The data collected from the transmitters will allow them to identify important areas for Little Blue Herons, including nest colonies, nocturnal roosts, and migration routes for this population. It will also help them understand what habitat attributes are important for determining foraging locations for the species.

Virginia Bayne from Fort Myers High took third place in the 2021 contest with her entry “Wings of Sun.”

High School Photo Contest

The ninth annual “Ding” Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest has kicked off with a deadline of February 15, 2022. It invites high school students in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry counties to compete for prizes that include a Canon digital SLR camera package, special photography opportunities to be announced, and copies of Waterbirds: Portraits and Anecdotes from Birding Adventures by contest namesake, the late Theodore Cross.

Cross, who lived part-time on Sanibel Island, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; advised the READ MORE

Tarpon Tourney Registration filled!

Registration opened last Friday at 8 a.m.for the 10th anniversary "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on May 13, and sold out later that day. DDWS has established a wait list for the tourney. If you would like to be included, please email April Boehnen or call 239-472-1100 ext. 256.

Elementary Schools Cartoon Contest

Each year, the Refuge hosts an editorial cartoon contest in the elementary schools in honor of Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist of the early to mid-20th century. This year, Edison Park (Fort Myers) and Patriot (Cape Coral) elementary schools participated. Shown here: First place winner from Edison Park by Taylor Fox. See the Refuge Cartoon Contest Facebook page to see the six winning cartoons from both schools.

#DingAtHome for the Holidays

Created during pandemic lockdown to keep kids and others engaged with the Refuge, our Ding at Home web page continues to provide families and individuals with opportunities to learn more about nature. Check in during holiday vacation to keep the kids gainfully occupied. We have added our new Junior Ranger booklet with activities you can easily adapt to the nearest green space or your own backyard. ALSO NEW: Activity worksheets in Spanish and English from our bilingual Wow team.

Mindfulness Walks at Bailey Tract

Join us for a peaceful morning of walking meditation at the Bailey Tract starting at 8:30 a.m. on the dates listed below. Together we will explore the concept of mindfulness, consider the various physical and mental benefits of time spent in nature, and take a mindful hike around Ani Marsh. Participation is limited for this free event, so please pre-register.

Upcoming Mindfulness Walks

Friday, December 10
Saturday, December 18
Wednesday, December 22
Friday, December 31
Saturday, January 1

WoW @ the Refuge for the Holidays

On select dates from December 21 to 30, the WoW mobile classroom will come home for the holidays to the Visitor & Education Center parking lot. Tour the interactive nature experience for free during those dates and times.

More Annual Meeting News

As we reported last week, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society met on December 1 to hear reports from President Sarah Ashton, Treasurer Bill Valerian, and Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland about accomplishments and changes that took place this past year. Members also received copies of the 2021 Annual Report

“We welcome Nancy and Stuart into the fold, confident that they will bring their passion for nature and energy for volunteering to help move the board into a new year of continued admirable support for the Refuge,” said Sarah Ashton.

Meet New Board Member Nancy Felker

Nancy Felker, a practicing pharmacist for 34 years for family pharmacies in Illinois and later in Arkansas, retired in 2017. She has been visiting Sanibel Island since age 4, when she developed an early love for birds and nature. With her husband, Dave, she has owned property on Sanibel since 2014, and still lives part-time in Northwest Arkansas.

Nancy began volunteering at the Refuge Nature Store pre-COVID and was then training to become a rover of Wildlife Drive. I will soon be volunteering again at the Nature Store,” she said. “I enjoy talking to the visitors about what they saw in the Refuge and where they have traveled from. I believe the motto ‘The more you know, the more you love, the more you want to protect. The Society does such an excellent job of encouraging education.’”

Meet New Board Member Stuart Sergeant

Stuart Sergeant works as a litigation attorney for Swanson, Martin & Bell in Chicago, Illinois, and owns the On Island boutique on Sanibel with his wife, Kate. He volunteers for the Sanibel and Captiva Kiwanis Club and formerly as an Island Youth sports coach.

“I love the outdoors and spending free time fishing, hunting, and mountain biking with my family,” said Sergeant. “I am excited to be a part of an organization that plays a key role in keeping Sanibel as we all know it: the perfect place to live and visit.”

Happy 19th TBE!

Wishing a Happy 19th Anniversary to our valued partners at Tarpon Bay Explorers, who operate the recreational concessions at Tarpon Bay Recreation Area and the Wildlife Drive tram tours so ably and efficiently. Cheers!

Holiday & Year-End Giving

Keep your holiday giving green this year by supporting local businesses, such as the Refuge Nature Store and by giving gift cards, which don’t require all the wasteful packaging and gift wrapping. Also, consider donating to a favorite charity in the name of your gift recipient. With the end of the tax year drawing near, an “in honor” gift to “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society offers so many benefits. Besides avoiding the inherent waste of gift-giving, it supports wildlife and conservation plus serves as a tax deduction for 2021. Your tax-deductible gift helps support the Refuge in areas such as conservation education, water quality and wildlife research, internships, walkways and trails, interpretive exhibits, land acquisition and restoration, and so many other ways to preserve and protect this vital land and inspire future conservation stewards. Choose a donation from our Refuge Wish List or indicate your gift for a specific cause or general Refuge support. Thank you for your contribution -- any amount. makes a difference.

Farewell, Thanks to Judie Zimomra

Along with the rest of Sanibel Island, Refuge and DDWS staff bid a bittersweet adieu to longtime Sanibel City Manager Judie Zimomra, who has always been a friend of the Refuge and a lover of wildlife. The community gathered last weekend to honor her retirement and watch a video of community leaders, including a couple of DDWS representatives, remembering her service and wishing her well.

“It takes the leaders of all organizations working together to have the best overall impacts on a community, and Judie was the right leader at the right time for the island,” said DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller. “She and her staff were a true asset to the Refuge and to DDWS. You would see Judie on the Drive every day immersing herself in nature. She often told us the Refuge gave her a sense of peace she needed to run the business of the island.”

Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts.

Lecture Sponsorships

Thanks to all of our sponsors who have signed up to support our 2022 Lecture Series – see below.

Sponsorships remain for one lecture:

March 18 – Author Jack Davis, The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America's Bird, available for $1,000 to $3,000.

Please contact April Boehnen at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 for more information about becoming a lecture sponsor. Benefits include deep brand exposure, an opportunity to enjoy a complimentary lunch with the speaker for up to four guests, and reserved seating at the first-come lecture.

Refuge Spotlight - America's Best Kept Secret

In each issue of “Ding” on the Wing, we showcase one of the more than 560 refuges across the U.S.A.

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Location: 5,077 acres; 70 miles north of Sacramento, California

Totemic fauna: Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Black-tailed Deer

Visitor tips: Visitor activities include an auto tour, observation deck and walkway, trail,

photography and photo blind, and hunting in designated hunt areas.

Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

GOING GREEN

Reducing Holiday Food Waste

Did you know that food scraps in the landfill can form methane gas, which contributes to climate change? So, don’t blame it all on the cows. You, too, may be creating greenhouse gases. Read about some clever ways to reduce food waste and start putting them to use for your holiday feasts.

Where Are They Now?

Former bilingual Suzanne M. Dubuc WoW Education Intern Taína A. Milán made a huge impact on Refuge urban outreach during her tenure last school year. She continues her work in and love for the outdoors as a ranger at Riverbend Park with Catawba County Parks and Recreation in North Carolina. She took the position in August following an internship at Jones State Park in Elizabethtown, North Carolina.

“My main job here is educational programs for the whole family, including guided hikes, birding, and craft activities,” she says. “My internship with WoW was a big help to find my dream job. The experience with the kids at schools with the WoW helped me to bring all of that here so that more kids and families could learn more things from nature and enjoy just the way I do by being in it. Creating programs for the WoW was a major help to create programs at this new place.”

Taína enjoyed helping with the annual Hawk Watch. The team counted 8,442 migratory hawks for the month of October. That month, she also tagged monarchs migrating south.

“So far, I am working on creating a connection with our Hispanic population so that they know that they are welcome here and that I am here to help them,” said Taína, a native of Puerto Rico. “It is a slow process, but I have faith that it will enrich our park and our community.”

Trail cam footage captured by DDWS

Wildlife Sightings & Tides

Visitors have been spotting a 10-foot alligator that spends it's days by the Wildlife Education Boardwalk. DDWS interns have recently set up trail cams, gifted to DDWS by gracious donors and successfully caught the gator's nightly routine of crossing Indigo Trail.

Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.

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.