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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
March 28
, 2019
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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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We WON! Click
HERE to read more about America's best restroom.
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Adidas/Parley Support 'Ding'
Click
HERE
to read how to support the Refuge by purchasing sports clothing
made from
f
ish nets, plastic water bottles, and other forms of plastic that have been gathered from the oceans and beaches. Click HERE to purchase products.
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Photo by David Jeffrey
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TOMORROW March 29: Drastic Plastic Lectures
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Lauren Blickely at work.
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"
Five trillion plastic pieces are currently floating in the ocean," says marine scientist Lauren Blickely.
"Scientists estimate that plastics will outweigh fish in the next 30 years." The Hawaii-based researcher presents two "Drastic Plastic - Turning the Tide on Plastic Pollution" programs at the Refuge on Friday, March 29,
at
10 a.m. and 1 p.m. -- part of the 2019 "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture series. Lauren's lectures explore the impact of plastic on our lives and actionable steps we can take to decrease our personal plastic footprints. She combines science with
READ MORE
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Special for Lauren's lecture, the Refuge Nature Store is carrying copies of the heralded Plastic Ocean
by Capt. Charles Moore. Profits from store sales directly benefit Refuge education and wildlife research.
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 Special thanks to HighTower Advisors, Thomas & Swartz for sponsoring this 2019 lecture series.
Lecture Series Seating Policy
Lectures take place in the admission-free "Ding" Darling
Visitor & Education Center. Seating for the lectures is limited and available on a first-come basis. Early arrivals can save their seat and one extra with personal items and then can explore the Visitor & Education Center or Indigo Trail before the lecture starts. Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before lecture time or they will be assigned to the next people waiting in line. We recommend arriving an hour before the lecture to save seats.
Click
HERE
for lecture series flyer.
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Last week's lecturers, Burmese python hunter Dusty "Wildman" Crum and SFWMD Python Program Manager Mike Kirkland, drew in capacity crowds for their two lectures. Check FACEBOOK Live for their lecture
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Push for 10K Instagram  Giveaway
 Last week, our Instagram account hit 9,000 followers. We've begun a 10k Giveaway to encourage more people to follow and use our Instagram page. To be included in the giveaway, all you have to do is follow our page and send us a direct message saying that you followed us because of "Ding" on the Wing. We will pull the name of a new follower every Friday until we reach our goal of 10,000 followers. The person whose name is pulled will win a free hat, t-shirt, and follower feature post on our page.
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Upcoming Lecture
Friday, April 5: Big Pink Birds Lectures
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Dr. Lorenz with a banded Roseate Spoonbill
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Historical accounts report flocks of up to 2,500 American Flamingos in Florida Bay. Although those days have vanished, birders have been sighting flamingos more regularly in recent years. Dr. Jerry Lorenz, State Research Director for Audubon Florida, has publicly challenged the theory that these are only escapees from tourist attractions. He believes historic populations and climate change may contribute to today's flamingo sightings. Having studied Roseate Spoonbills in Florida Bay for nearly 30 years, Dr. Lorenz is well-versed on the plight of big pink birds. He will present
READ MORE
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 Wednesday, April 3: Coral Reefs Film
 The seventh annual "Ding" Darling Wednesday Film Series winds up its 2019 free biweekly showings on April 3 with
Saving Atlantis
at 1 p.m. in the Visitor & Education Center. It examines the plight of coral reefs, which serve as a linchpin in the world food web. Their decline leads our entire planet in a perilous direction naturally, culturally, and READ MORE
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Saving Atlantis - Official Trailer
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Volunteer Awards
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Volunteer Doris Hardy accepts her 8,500 hours award.
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"Ding" Darling Refuge and DDWS celebrated their annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon on March 26 at The Community House. Refuge staff reported that in fiscal year 2018, 292 volunteers worked 42,109.5 hours at the Refuge, representing a labor and benefits savings of more than a million dollars, equivalent to 20 full-time
READ MORE
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Kate Sergeant (left), along with her husband, Stuart, co-owners of the On Island shop on Sanibel Island, has designed a navy blue T-shirt declaring "Sanibel Ding. We're Well Preserved" as a means of raising funds for the Wulfert Bayous Acquisition. A portion of proceeds from it and a second light blue shirt support the campaign. The store is also collecting donations for Wulfert Bayous and has to date contributed $162. DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller and Development Officer Sierra Hoisington stopped by recently to thank Kate Sergeant (far left) and her team for their contributions. Stop by their store to buy a t-shirt!
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The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society has gone public with its project to raise $3 million in private donations to complete the $9.5 million acquisition of Wulfert Bayous, the last large parcel of unprotected and undeveloped land on Sanibel Island. Click
HERE
to read more about the project and to make contributions.
To make donations or pledges in person,
contact Birgie Miller
, DDWS Executive Director at 239-472-1100 ext. 4.
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| "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society 68-Acre Preservation Campaign Video. |
To make donations or pledges in person,
contact Birgie Miller
, DDWS Executive Director at 239-292.0566.
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Earth Day at the Refuge
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Planned activities include at 10 a.m. guided beach walk.
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Because Earth Day 2019 falls on the Monday following Easter, a day off for Lee County Schools students, we have expanded the free event to include a full day of tours, crafts, films, and programs on
April 22
. The Refuge will celebrate the 29th anniversary READ MORE
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Refuge Wish List 2019
 Thanks to everyone who has responded with donations to the Refuge's wish list for equipment and other support. We have been able to cross off a couple items. Click
here
to have a look. Call 239-472-1100 ext. 4 to make a donation or click
here
to donate online.
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Fitkicks: Footwear for Active Lifestyles
The Nature Store carries Fitkicks, ultralight and form-fitting footwear, for both men and women.  Men's sizes come in black; for women, we carry a variety of styles, including the recent addition of some new colors as well as reversible neoprene totes.
Stop in and pick up your Fitkicks today. Or contact Store Manager
Ann-Marie Wildman
at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for more information about mail-ordering these and other
featured products
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Former fourth-place winner in the Federal Duck Stamp program, Nathan Greene of Eau Claire, Michigan, recently visited the Nature Store with his wife. He is shown here wearing one of our birding vests.
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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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March 31: Scholarships Application Deadline
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| Scholarships winners and presenters, 2018 |
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Application deadline for a number of conservation scholarships from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each, is March 31. High school seniors, college students, and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties pursuing degrees in environmental-related studies can apply. The scholarships will be awarded at a special ceremony at the Refuge in June 2019. Now in its 13th year, the DDWS scholarship program presented its first awards in 2006 from READ MORE
Click
here
for an application and more information.
To read about the 2018 scholarships and recipients, click HERE
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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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Images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
Location:
Northern Idaho (2,774 acres)
Totemic Fauna:
Cinnamon Teal, Moose, Bald Eagle
Fun for the Family:
The Refuge offers a story trail for parents to share nature stories with their children as they hike.
Visitor's Tip:
Four walking trails are available, plus a 4.5 mile auto tour.
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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.
Lose the Plastic
With plastic in our seas the focus of this week's lecture, we present a few startling facts about the crisis.
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Lecturer Lauren Blickely surveys trash washed up on a Hawaiian beach.
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The process of producing bottled water requires around 6 times as much water per bottle as there is in the container.
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14% of all litter comes from beverage containers. When caps and labels are considered, the number is higher.
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From the tiniest plankton to the largest whales, plastics impact nearly 700 species in our ocean.
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Plastic has been found in more than 60% of all seabirds and in 100% of sea turtles species.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings
Janet Kirk found this Solitary Sandpiper on the Refuge this past week. This shorebird can be seen in migration along the banks of ponds, lakes, and estuaries.
T
o see more wildlife photos click on our social media links:
If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos taken at the Refuge, send them to Development Officer,
Sierra Hoisington, for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Stay tuned as we reveal our calendar of special activities to celebrate the Refuge's 75th anniversary starting later this year.
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Free Refuge Summer Programs
- June 5-August 3, 2019
Clyde Butcher Photography Exhibition
- November 12, 2019-February 8, 2020
75th Anniversary Happy Hour Holiday Shopping
- December 1, 2019
75th Anniversary Lecture Series
- January 24-April 10, 2020
75th Anniversary Go Wild for "Ding"
- February 12, 2020
75th Anniversary Artist in Residence Program
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 Christopher Gutierrez & April Boehnen.
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