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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
June 23, 2016
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The Refuge Nature Store is seeking applications for a part-time team member position. Interested persons should contact Store Manager Jeanne Walsh by
email
or by phone at 239-472-1100 ext. 241.
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Do you vote in Lee County?
Vote YES for Conservation 20/20.
Support the continued use of tax dollars to conserve important wildlife habitat and outdoor recreational opportunities in Lee County by
voting
YES
for Conservation 20/20 in the
November 8, 2016
, election. Thanks to 20/20, we were able to
fulfill our goal to purchase and protect property at Woodring Point in 2013. We hope to work with the county again in the future on such preservation partnerships.
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Immature Little Blue Heron by Sylvia Guarino
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Doc Ford's Top "Ding" Darling Days Sponsor
Doc Ford's Sanibel Rum Bar & Grille, for the ninth consecutive year, has donated $5,000 to "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society for our
27th annual "Ding" Darling Days birding and eco-festival, which will draw more than 6,000 visitors to J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge the week of October 16-22, 2016. As a $5,000 donor, Doc Ford's becomes a Roseate Spoonbill, a top level sponsor for
READ MORE
BECOME A SPONSOR!
Thanks to sponsors who are already showing their support:
ROSEATE SPOONBILL SPONSORS:
GREAT EGRET SPONSORS:
GREAT BLUE HERON SPONSORS:
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Beach Walks at the Refuge's Perry Tract teach families about marine wildlife and its habitat. |
FREE Summer Programs Underway
Wildlife Wonders talks, weekly walks, and nature crafts highlight the free summer programming to be offered at the Refuge through August 6, 2016. Summer programming is made possible by support from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society.
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Summer Camp Jumps to Start
The second annual Nature Explorers Summer Day Camp kicked off Monday, June 20, with much excitement. Because of its popularity, two more weeks were added thanks to an anonymous gift. Two anonymous donors made it possible to offer this camp and we are all grateful for their support. We are inspiring new enthusiastic young nature-lovers.
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Welcome Summer Intern
We welcome Cydnie Golson to the "Ding" family as a shared-use intern who will be helping with the summer education programming and "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society duties. Cydnie is entering her senior year at
St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, and will be helping out until August 5 while her family is staying on Sanibel Island.
"My family has always come to Sanibel for the summer," said Cydnie. "We love the laid-back feel of the island as well as the teeming wildlife and lovely beaches. I love that Sanibel is covered with nature preserves and is truly a place 'where wildlife comes first.' I love how devoted all of those working with 'Ding' are. Getting to work alongside the volunteers, Society members, and Refuge staff has been a great experience already."
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Jeanne Walsh first visited "Ding" Darling 15 years ago on vacation with her husband and three children. She was awed by the birds, raccoons, and alligators. Now she's back, living on Sanibel. In December 2015, she took a part-time position at the Refuge Nature Store and last week was promoted to store manager. Formerly a part-time resident of North Captiva Island, Jeanne moved to Sanibel last fall
READ MORE
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Ranger Toni at IPW
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Ranger Toni, far right, and Secretary Jewell, third from right.
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This week Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland is representing the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and its 562 Wildlife Refuges in New Orleans at IPW, the travel industry's premier international marketplace. She made a presentation to encourage tourism with the National Wildlife Refuge System and had the opportunity to talk with Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell.
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Often called the "teddy bears of the marine world," loveable manatees swim around this new glow-in-the-dark youth T-shirt in sizes XS to L. The Refuge logo on the sleeve proclaims your love of "Ding" Darling. The shirt comes in light pink or baby blue and costs $14.95 each. To mail order your kids tees, email or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241.
Remember, proceeds from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs and wildlife research.
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Say NO to Plastic Straws
A hearty shout-out to retired "Ding" staffer Ken Petrie and his wife Jane, whose protest of beach straw debris at Lani Kai resort on Fort Myers Beach and its negative impact on wildlife led the resort to switch to biodegradable straws. Jane brought the issue to light via a WINK-TV segment
that aired earlier this month. The publicity inspired Lani Kai officials to switch to more costly biodegradable straws.
Click here
to read about their victory. Score one for wildlife-lovers!
Stay tuned to "Ding" on the Wing and our
Facebook page for more news and information about the impact of straws and other plastics on wildlife population.
And in the meantime, request your beverage without a plastic straw.
Pictured: Ken Petrie disposes of one handful of straws the couple picked up off the beach recently near Lani Kai's beach bar before they switched to biodegradable straws.
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This Land Is Your Land
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society has undertaken a campaign to acquire more than 8 acres
on Sanibel Island's Wulfert Road as a crucial wildlife corridor for the "Ding" Darling Refuge. We must raise $2 million in private funds to purchase the parcel, which lies between SCCF land and the Refuge.
Donors have already committed more than $600,000 of needed funds, so the goal is to raise the remaining $1.4 million by February 2017
. If not preserved by the Refuge, the land could be developed with as many as five dwellings and
READ MORE
To make a gift or multi-year pledge or for more information, contact DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 or by
email.
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America's Best-Kept Secret
In this issue, Leigh Gay, temporary Refuge employee and former intern,
introduces us to Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one of more than 560 refuges in the U.S. Leigh worked there as an Environmental Education intern for six months previous to arriving at "Ding."
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR
Location: The nation's first urban wildlife refuge, the 30,000-acre oasis sits on the southern end of San Francisco Bay.
Totemic fauna:
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, California Ridgway's Rail, and Western Snowy Plover
Fun for the family: More than 30 hiking trails, most of which can accommodate bicycles
Visitor's tip:
Don't miss the boardwalk trail through New Chicago Marsh.
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Gopher Tortoise by Patty MacInnis, top Roseate Spoonbill by Sylvia Guarino, bottom Roseate Spoonbill by Amy Rybicki
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 Society intern
Carrie Alexander
for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Kids Fishing Derby - November 28, 2016
Happy Hour Holiday Shopping - November 30, 2016
DDWS Annual Meeting - December 7, 2016
Volunteer Holiday Luncheon - December 9, 2016
Go Wild for "Ding" - February 8, 2017
Volunteer Awards Luncheon - February 10, 2017
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These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our website at
www.dingdarlingsociety.org to learn more!
Sincerely,
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by Sarah Lathrop and interns Carrie Alexander and Anna Grubb
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