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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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The Refuge recently received a plaque from Gulfshore Life magazine honoring it as the winner of the 2019 Best of the Gulfshore award in the Nature & Wildlife Attraction category. "Ding" Darling also finished as a finalist in the Overall Attraction category.
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In Memory and Honor Gifts
Click
HERE
to see gifts made in memory of friends and family members to DDWS during August 2019.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Refuge in this thoughtful and meaningful way.
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Double your gift today and support wild education!
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An artist rendering of WoW design |
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 under-served communities in READ MORE
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| Sanibel Carts this year joins HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management to sponsor the Friday Lecture Series. |
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The 16th annual "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture Series
, which runs January 17 through April 3, 2020, will feature a line-up of authors and experts in the world of birds, nature photography, and conservation. From woodpeckers and panthers to rain and hurricanes, the season promises to be one of the Refuge's best.
This year's series is part of the Refuge's 75th anniversary celebration. HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management
and one of the Sanibel's newest businesses, Sanibel Carts
co-sponsor the free 12-lecture series with support from DDWS. One highlight of the season brings world-renowned nature photographer Clyde Butcher, whose READ MORE
Click HERE for a lecture series flyer.
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 September 15: Photo Contest Deadline
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Honorable Mentions, such as this Reddish Egret photo by Anthony Pietraniello of Merrick, New York, in 2018, receive a $25 prize.
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All entries must be submitted electronically to be eligible for the $300 first-place prize, $225 second-place prize, and $175 third-place. The 27
th
annual READ MORE
Click
HERE
for rules and entry form.
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DDWS Associate Executive Director Lynnae Messina and DDWS President Mike Baldwin.
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NBC2 TV Reporter Meagan Miller recently paid a visit to the Refuge's latest acquisition at 68-acre Wulfert Bayous. She talked with DDWS President Mike Baldwin about the project, the land, and its positive impact on water quality.
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Teacher Grants for 2019-2020
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A Royal Palm Exceptional School student and teacher show off their project "Enviro-Art," funded by a 2018-2019 Teacher Conservation Grant from DDWS, to Education Committee Chair Wendy Kindig. |
The DDWS and Refuge have announced their 14th annual round of
Teacher Conservation Grants
. Up to $10,000 in grant awards are available to districts, schools, and individual teachers in Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties this school year for conservation education-related projects. Teachers may apply for grants up to $1,000 each to fund new classroom science projects, promote READ MORE
In the past 12 years, DDWS has granted more than $80,300 to local schools for environmental projects. The grants are funded by monies received from the DDWS Conservation Education Endowment Fund established by Jay "Ding" Darling's grandson, the late Kip Koss. To make a tax-deductible donation in support of the fund, contact DDWS Executive Director
Birgie Miller
at 239-472-1100 ext. 232.
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Artist 'in Residence' Video
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The mural that Ed Anderson created with visiting students from PACE Center for Girls - Lee County now graces the wall past our 2018 America's Best Restroom mural.
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During his
"in residency" stint at the Refuge
this summer, Boise artist and angler Ed Anderson participated with Meat Eater filmmakers on a project called
Das Boat.
Click
HERE
to watch episode 3, filmed
mostly
(obviously not the flamingo sequences) within J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
While here, Ed painted with at-risk student groups, conducted journal art walks, and created plein air on Wildlife Drive as part of the Refuge's
75th Anniversary Celebration
. A special exhibition will display the work he did during his eight weeks at his studio on Sanibel Island. It will run from February 18 through March 18 in the Refuge Visitor & Education Center Auditorium.
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| Artwork by Toni Ory |
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Win up to $500 in prize money for your "trashionista" design at March's
Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash
Twist Tie Optional Luncheon at The Sanctuary Club on Sanibel Island. Deadline is October 1, 2019, to submit your application for the juried show.
Click
HERE
for a flyer or call
Dot Voorhees
at 239-472-1100 ext. 239 for more information.
 We need sponsors for this exciting inaugural event on March 10, 2020? Click
HERE
or talk to Dot.
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Save the Date: Award-Winning Author Event
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| Michael Grunwald |
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With our coastline under siege from red tides, algae, and rising seas, Michael Grunwald's award-winning book about the Florida Everglades' backstory has never been more relevant or urgent. On March 20, 2020, the author will make a special appearance at The Community House on Sanibel Island, hosted by DDWS to benefit water-quality research and education at the Refuge.
The bestselling Florida author will be doing book-signings for
two separate events
on Friday, March 20. An exclusive cocktail and nosh reception with an author meet-and-greet starts at 5:30 p.m. for a limited number of ticket-holders. At $125 each, reception tickets also include reserved VIP seating at his 7 p.m. lecture, which will follow. Tickets for the lecture only are $30. All tickets will go on sale November 1, 2019.
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Click Above to learn how you can become a sponsor and help support the conservation efforts at the Refuge Complex.
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The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise,
which informed the 2018 PBS documentary
The Swamp
, tells the story of the manmade destruction and attempted READ MORE
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New for 'Ding' Day
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Conservation Art Day activities, such as nature sketching, will be folded into Sunday's
"Ding" Day schedule this year.
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As the 75th Anniversary Celebration at "Ding" Darling kicks in, staff has planned a
"Ding" Darling Day
for
Sunday, October 20
, that will concentrate all the best traditions of the 31
st
annual eco-festival into one day of family and conservation art activities, tours, and programs.
The schedule will include a number of
new free features
: The day starts early this year with birding, hiking, and biking tours hourly beginning at 8 a.m. and running until
READ MORE
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'Ding' Darling Days Sponsors
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| Joel and Kim at Mitchell's Sand Castles, pictured here with DDWS' Dot Voorhees, sponsor "Ding" Darling Day at the Great Egret level. |
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Thanks to our wonderful
sponsors
, who make the 2019 event possible.
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Work Begins on New 'Ding' Studio Exhibit
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A 3D mural will honor Darling's contributions to conservation through the
Federal Duck Stamp Program he created. Artist David Williams of Wingin' It Works in North Carolina, who created our
America's Best Restroom has been hired to design and craft the mural.
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Work has begun on a remastered permanent exhibit in the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center, devoted to Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling. The new exhibit will upgrade the existing re-creation of the artist's studio at the
Des Moines Register
, from where he penned thousands of cartoons for the daily newspaper that were syndicated across the U.S.
New exhibit highlights include a hands-on feature that allows visitors to draw at his re-created desk and a new 127' x 98' mural centered around a blowup of the first 1935 Duck Stamp, originally drawn by Darling, with 3D ducks flying out from it. Since its inception, the Duck Stamp Program has raised funds enough to preserve more than 5.7 million acres of wildlife habitat.
The new exhibition will unveil on December 2, 2019, as part of the Refuge's 75th Anniversary Celebration . |
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75th Anniversary Sponsorship Opportunities
 As excitement builds for the "Ding" Darling 75th Anniversary Celebration, so too does the demand for support for a calendar-full of special events. We count on sponsorships to support the Refuge by bringing event attendees here to educate them and enrich them with a love of nature.
Click HERE to learn about the different upcoming sponsorship opportunities, and find one that fits your interests and passion. All sponsorship donations are tax-deductible. For more information, contact Dot Voorhees at 239-472-1100 ext. 239.
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 Merit Badge University
Only 10 spots remain. 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 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
Click HERE for a flyer.
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Cycling is one of the skills Scouts can earn a badge for at Badge University. Register today - space is running out!
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Watch This!
Original Grain, a premier maker of natural wood and steel watches, gets its wood from sustainably harvested trees and reclaimed ash wood baseball bats, as is the case with the Boston Red Sox Edition pictured below. The company has its roots in the Pacific Northwest and harbors a love for the great outdoors, taking pride in preserving forests and the people who rely on them. For each watch purchased, a tree is planted that will help provide jobs, food, and assistance to families around the globe. 
Stop in today to pick up your handsome new watch. 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.
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Watercress Darter
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Location:
Bessemer, Alabama (24 acres)
Totemic Fauna:
Watercress Darter
Visitor's Tip:
The refuge is currently unstaffed. Walk the refuge to see and maybe photograph wildlife on the land and in the air.
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Images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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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.
Sustainable Travel
Travel and tourism make a heavy impact on the environment and the health of our planet. As you plan your fall and winter travels, look for eco-friendly transportation and accommodations options. A number of new booking agencies can help you eke out sustainable lodging. Click
HERE
to learn more.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings
Janet Kirk spotted this Mangrove Cuckoo on Wildlife Drive about a week ago. We love to see this elusive and beautiful bird!
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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National Public Lands Day - September 28, 2019
"Ding" Darling World Animal Day - October 4, 2019
Museum Shopping Sunday
- December 1, 2019
75
th
Anniversary Holiday Shopping Night
- December 3, 2019
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Hosts Everglades Coalition at South Seas Resort
- January 9-12, 2020
"Ding" Darling Film Series - January 8 - April 11, 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 April Boehnen.
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