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Tips for Attending Lectures
The free "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture Series has become increasingly popular. Because we want to keep the lectures admission-free and we are restricted by the fire department to the number of seats we can fill, the lectures often reach their capacity quickly. We have tried various strategies for easing the frustration of people we are unable to seat. This year, we try a new strategy using wristbands.
We have also compiled
TIPS
to help.
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2020 Wish List
If your New Year's resolutions involved supporting conservation education and Refuge internships, have a look at the Refuge's
2020 Wish List
. It provides opportunities to earmark your donation for items such as water research equipment, intern stipends, and classroom supplies. For more information, call 239-472-1100 ext. 4.
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These gifts
were made to DDWS in honor of and in memory of friends and families during January 2020. Thank you to everyone who supported the Refuge in this thoughtful and meaningful way. Make a memorial or honor donation
here
. 
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 TOMORROW:
'Walk on the Wild Side' Lectures
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Ron Magill
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Wildlife ambassador Ron Magill brings his experiences to life with stunning imagery and stories that range from the incredible migration of monarch butterflies to the struggle for survival in the African bush. On Friday, February 7, he will be presenting two free programs at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Refuge Visitor & Education Center Auditorium. Magill's "From Butterflies to Lions: A Walk on the Wild Side" slide presentations are part of the 2019 "Ding" Darling Lecture Series that take place
READ MORE
This year's series is one of the Refuge's
75th anniversary celebration activities.
THANK YOU to our co-sponsors of the free 12-lecture series.
See lecture tips in this email.
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Friday, February 14 Lecture:
Cynthia Barnett & Rain
 Cynthia Barnett's book
Rain: A Natural & Cultural History
begins four billion years ago with the torrents that filled the oceans, and builds to the storms of climate change. On Friday, February 14, she will deliver two free lectures about her book at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Refuge. Barnett will sign copies of her book, available at the Refuge Nature Store, which benefits conservation and education programs at "Ding" Darling.
Rain
weaves together science - the true shape of a raindrop, the mysteries of frog and fish rains - with the human story of our ambition to control rain. The book is also a READ MORE
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Farewell to a Friend
 Last week, we received the sad news that longtime volunteer and DDWS Board of Directors consultant Bill Rankin passed away. He and his wife Jeanne Rankin, an Emeritus Board Member, received the Founders Award in 2018 for their many hours of devotion to the Refuge. Bill volunteered for 28 years roving, at the front desk, and advising the board during the construction of the Visitor & Education Center. "He will be sorely missed by us all," said Ranger Jeff Combs, volunteer coordinator.
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Like a Garden in Your Hand
Add a little sparkle to your life and cocktail hour with one of these intricately designed glasses featuring flora and fauna in bright spring colors. Each glass is artisan blown then hand painted and hand blinged for one-of-a-kind results. Packaged in a lovely signature gift box, they make the perfect hostess or birthday gift. Bonus: You'll love trying the recipe on the bottom of each glass.
Stop in the store today or contact Nature Store Manager
Ann-Marie Wildman
at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for information about mail-ordering store products. Visit our
online store
for convenient ordering of some of our most popular items.
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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Addition to 'Ding' Studio Exhibit
 Last week, the Refuge installed the final element to the "Ding" Studio exhibit that it updated for its
75th Anniversary Celebration
. The touch-screen timeline is one more hands-on piece of the new interactive exhibit. Here, Supervisory Refuge Ranger, who led the exhibit project with DDWS Development Officer Sierra Hoisington, demonstrates how visitors can learn more about the Refuge's namesake.
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WoW Truck Donation
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| The WoW team -- artist David Williams_ Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland_ and DDWS Development Officer Sierra Hoisington - recently visited North Carolina to try out the WoW mobile classroom shell for size. |
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DDWS recently received a donation from the Bluedorn Family of Sanibel Island and Dallas, Texas, to purchase a heavy-duty truck to tow the Refuge's 36 foot Wildlife on Wheels (WoW) mobile classroom. "That was the last piece of the puzzle to put together the 'traveling refuge' unit to extend the Refuge's educational reach to at-risk communities and people in the five-county area who are unable to visit 'Ding' Darling," said DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller. "We are so thrilled that the Bluedorn family found the project captivating because of the importance of its READ MORE
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Artist Rendering of the WoW and truck
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Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation for ongoing needs for the WoW project can contact
Birgie or Sierra Hoisington
at 239-472-1100 ext. 4.
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Go Wild Auction Item
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| You needn't attend Go Wild to bid on this lovely Cattle Egret wood carving by Award Winning artist Gary Eigenberger. |
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Although tickets for the 2020 Go Wild for "Ding" - Lovin' Spoonbills fundraiser on February 12 have sold out,
you can still bid on your favorite auction items
by calling Dot Voorhees at 239-472-1100 ext. 239.
Click EMAIL to ask that a pdf of the auction items be sent to you for a review or call 239.292.0566 to receive a copy.
Thanks to our generous sponsors who make Go Wild possible.
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Go Wild for "Ding" Sponsors
Call of the Wild Sponsor
Champion Level Sponsors
Guardian Level Sponsors
Protector Level Sponsors
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Sponsors are still needed. Click above to learn more about joining these sponsors
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Defender Level Sponsors
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Welcome Biology Intern
 Biology intern Haley Miller joined the Refuge team in January and plans to stay until early August 2020 as part of the Refuge's long-running
internship program
supported by DDWS. Haley, originally from Haverhill, Massachusetts, most recently worked as a research assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. In 2018, she graduated from Chapman University in California with a bachelor of science degree in environmental science and policy. Concurrently with her "Ding" internship, she is working on a master's degree in forest resources at Clemson University in South Carolina.
"I love the enthusiasm I've seen from day one from Refuge staff and volunteers," said Haley. "Their acknowledgement of how special this place is and their dedication to continue to protect its habitat is inspiring." She looks forward to joining the Refuge's ongoing mangrove fertilization study and will begin working on her master's thesis about understanding mangrove water use efficiency.
To learn about supporting the Refuge intern program, contact
Birgie Miller
, DDWS Executive Director, at 239-472-1100 ext. 4.
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Few Tickets Remain for The Swamp Lecture
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Michael Grunwald
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With our coastline under siege from red tide, 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
, 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 at
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 ticketholders. At $125 each, reception tickets also include reserved VIP seating at his 7 p.m. lecture that will follow. Tickets for the lecture-only are $30.
Tickets are now on sale online
, and they are selling fast.
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
Thanks to our sponsors who make these author events possible.
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The Swamp Lecture Sponsors
Defender Level Sponsors
Media Sponsor
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| Sponsors help defray the costs of the events to help the DDWS raise support for conservation efforts. Become a sponsor and join those listed above for this important lecture |
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February 24: National Wildlife Day Celebration
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Watch a free showing of Our Planet's Coastal Seas
for National Wildlife Day at the Refuge.
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Join a free guided bike tour, play wildlife trivia games, watch a free film, and take advantage of Refuge Nature Store specials during National Wildlife Day at the Refuge on Monday, February 24. Bring your own bike and helmet to join the 4-mile bike tour at 9 a.m. and meet at the parking lot flagpole. Win prizes in
READ MORE
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Through February 15:
Clyde Butcher Photographic
Exhibition Extended
During the ongoing Refuge 75th Anniversary
Clyde Butcher Photographic Exhibition
through February 15, 2020, in the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center, guests can view Butcher's American Everglades Collection for free daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thanks to Mark & Gretchen Banks for sponsoring the exhibition.
Learn how to purchase Butcher prints to benefit the Refuge
here
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TBE Hosts My Autism Connection
Tarpon Bay Explorers , the Refuge's official recreation concession, recently hosted a group from My Autism Connection, a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for individuals with Asperger's and high-functioning autism to develop skills towards independence in the community. TBE took the group on a kayaking tour of Commodore Creek to spot and identify wildlife along the way.
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'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. This month, Kelly Kemmerle joins Refuge staff for three weeks from John Heinz NWR. She will be shadowing our highly regarded Visitor Services team to learn its secrets to successful programming and partnerships. In her honor, we pay a quick visit to her refuge.
Location: America's first urban refuge, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Totemic Flora & Fauna:
Marsh Rice Rat, Red-bellied Turtle
Visitor's Tips: A 4.5 mile tidal segment of Darby Creek flows through the refuge and is accessible by paddling.
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Kelly Kemmerle
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Image 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.
Easy Steps to Sustainability in 2020
1.
Carry reusable shopping bags in your car. Place them in your front seat beside you, so you remember to take them in the store with you.
2.
Bring your own coffee mug with you to coffee bars.
3.
If you must use straws in your beverage, invest in steel or other reusable straws.
4.
Carry reusable containers when you eat out to package your leftovers.
5.
Dispose of plastic bags responsibly. Most home recycling services cannot recycle them, and they often end up clogging operations. Take them to plastic bag recycling bins frequently found at grocery stores, or place them in with regular trash.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings
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| Photo credit: Rebecca Clemens |
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Sometimes a shell is so beautiful, you have to fly away with it, just ask this Osprey.
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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Global Recycling Day - March 18, 2020
Spring Migratory Sale at Nature Store - April 15, 2020
Earth Day at the Refuge - April 22, 2020
Endangered Species Day at the Refuge
- May 15, 2020
75th Anniversary "Ding:" The Man, The Art, The Stories Exhibition Opening
- October 20, 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 Arthur & April Boehnen.
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