Donate Cash for Bikes - We're Halfway There!
Bikes for Achievement rewards select students at Tice Elementary, a Title 1 school in Fort Myers, for improved grades with a free bike next year. Our goal is to purchase 50 bikes, and so far we’ve received donations for 26. Donate online now until January 22, and specify “bikes” in the comment section. Note: We are seeking only cash donations ($100-$125 per bike) for this charitable request.
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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 31
· Saturday, January 1
· Wednesday, January 5
· Saturday, January 8
· Friday, January 21
· Saturday, January 22
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Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts. | |
Richard Crossley Lecture "The Past, Present, and Future of Birding through Conservation"
Co-Sponsors: Anonymous, High Tower Fort Myers Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management
Holly Merker Lecture “Ornitherapy: How a Deeper Experience with Nature Can Enrich Your Mind, Body, and Soul". Co-Sponsors: Anonymous, Joseph & Michelle Blanda
Amy Urich Lecture “The Captivating Art and Times of My Father, Ikki Matsumoto”. Sponsor: Bill & Laurie Harkey
Doug Chadwick Lecture Four Fifths a Grizzly: A New Perspective on Nature that Just Might Save Us All". Co-Sponsors: Diane Esslinger, The Jenni & Kyle Foundation
David Allen Sibley Lecture "What It's Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds Are Doing, and Why". Co-Sponsors: Stan & Connie Grayson, Drs. John & Wendy Kindig, High Tower Fort Myers Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management
Jack Davis Lecture "The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America's Bird" Co-Sponsors: In Appreciation of the DDWS Staff, Sonya Keene & John Moy, In Memory of Roddy West, Pat Appino
Stan Tekiela Lecture "Bird Nests: Amazingly Ingenious and Intricate" Co-Sponsors: Vortex Optics, A Fellow Minnesotan, The Jenni & Kyle Foundation
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"Ding" Phone Wallpaper
Show your "Ding" support and love of nature on your devices. Visit our Instagram page and click on the Highlight Reels at the top of our page to screenshot fun Refuge-themed wallpaper to your smart phone.
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Farewell Lynnae
So long and best wishes to Lynnae Messina, who has served as DDWS Associate Executive Director since summer 2018. She moves on to new opportunities, and though we will miss her smiling face and positive attitude, we wish the best for her.
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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.
Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge
Location: 25,162 acres; Jena, Louisiana
Totemic fauna: White-tailed Deer, Mallard, Glossy Ibis
Visitor tips: The Duck Lake Wildlife Drive provides 9 miles of wildlife viewing opportunities. Two hiking trails and an observation tower are available along the drive
Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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It's a gathering of the Herons and Egrets! Seen here are a Reddish Egret and Tricolored Heron. These two species enjoy foraging in shallow water for their next meals. The best time to see foraging wading birds is during low tide. Check the link above to find out when low tide is on your next visit down Wildlife Drive.
Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.
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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. | |
Upcoming Events
Artist-in-Residence Exhibition – Through February 28, 2022
2022 Lecture Series – February 4-March 25, 2022
2022 Film Series (Virtual) – Dates TBD
Wellness Week at the Refuge - February 7-12, 2022
Go Wild for “Ding” – Year of the Anhinga, Soar for 40 More – February 9, 2022
Walk for ‘Ding’ Challenge – March 1-April 10, 2022
Lori Lawrence Art Exhibition – March 1 – April 30, 2022
Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash - March 31, 2022
April No-Foolin’ Volunteer Appreciation Drive-Through - April 1, 2022
“Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival @ Lakes Park – April 24, 2022
10th Annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament – May 13, 2022
Niki Butcher Art Exhibition - November 15-December 31, 2022
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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, Birgit Miller, Executive Director
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by Christina Hester & Hayley Caylor.
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