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 Thanks to a Young Supporter Recently, DDWS received a donation from 13-year-old Mary Klene of Springboro, Ohio. The funds came from a home soap-making business she runs. Mary Klene (pronounced "cleany" - certainly appropriate!) has donated half of her profits ever since she started the business. Her family visits Sanibel every summer, and she says her favorite part is visiting "Ding" Darling. "I love to support Ding Darling because of what you do," she wrote in an accompanying letter. "You help animals find a home, in a populated place." Read the sweet letter in its entirety.
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Mary Klene at work making soaps
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Read more about becoming part of our new monthly giving program.
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#DailyDoseofDing
The DDWS staff has been busy bringing the healing sunshine and beauty of the Refuge to the public through 30-second social media videos. Follow on Facebook to see our #DailyDoseofDing, brief virtual visits to the Refuge for those who can't make it.
The posts have become a much-anticipated feature, boosting Facebook numbers to nearly 15K followers. |
Backyard Nature
Whether you live on Sanibel Island or in a completely different environment in faraway places like Connecticut or Utah, we want to see what you're seeing in your habitat while you are staying safe at home.
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| | Thank you to Jim Colligan for sharing a backyard nature photo of a Red Fox kit in Shelter Island, New York. |
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| | Thank you to Maureen Shumway for sharing a backyard nature photo of a snapping turtle hatchling at The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel. |
Please email y our nature photos so we can share them in "Ding" on the Wing and by social media. Include details about the photographer and where the photo was taken.
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National Public Lands &
Urban Wildlife Day
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Drive, bike, or hike Wildlife Drive for free on National Public Lands & Urban Wildlife Day.
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For Saturday, September 26, the Refuge has designed three ways to celebrate National Public Lands & Urban Wildlife Day.
1. Visit Wildlife Drive free of charge all day (7 a.m.-7 p.m.). Print out this scavenger hunt before you go, and be on the lookout for wildlife.
2. If you live in Lee, Collier, or Charlotte County, receive a 25% discount off tours and rentals at Tarpon Bay Explorers, our recreation concession. (Bring proof of residency, please.)
3. Support the Refuge by shopping online at ShopDingDarling.com. Curbside pickup is available Monday through Friday.
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Lecture Series Sponsors
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| | Thanks to Southwest Florida Eagle Cam for sponsoring Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Davis' lecture, "The Bald Eagle: Symbol and Species in American History," in February. |
Because the pandemic has forced DDWS to move this year's free lecture series to The Community House on Sanibel, our costs to host the lectures have increased significantly due to rental fees. We are seeking one $5,000 sponsor or partial sponsors in increments of $1,000 to cover rental and lecturer fees for each presentation. Below is the lecture schedule and current sponsorship needs. Please contact April Boehnen (239-472-1100 ext. 4) or Birgie Miller (239-472-1100 ext. 232) for more information.
Thursday, February 4 - Photographers Clyde and Niki Butcher, The Everglades, sponsored by Wayne and Linda Boyd
Friday, February 19 - Author Jack Davis, "The Bald Eagle: Symbol and Species in American History," sponsored by Southwest Florida Eagle Cam
Friday, March 12 - Author Paul Bannick, "Great Gray Owl: A Visual Natural History,"
sponsor(s) needed
 Friday. March 19 - Author Kirk W. Johnson, Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century, partially sponsored by HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management, additional partial sponsor(s) needed. |
Refuge Update
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Stay active and keep distanced with stand-up paddleboarding rentals and tours from Tarpon Bay Explorers | |
Keep current on Refuge re-openings and postponements during the pandemic via our dedicated web page.
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 October 15: Photo Contest Deadline Extended
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Larry Brophy from Fort Myers, Florida, took third place last year with a photo of an American Alligator titled "Keep Your Distance" - how appropriate in these times.
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View photo contest flyer for more details.
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 These gifts were made to DDWS in honor of and in memory of friends and families during August 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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Wulfert Bayous Campaign Video Wins Award
Recently, Priority Marketing -- the firm that produced a video in 2018 for the campaign to raise funds toward the acquisition of Wulfert Bayous, now known as the Lee Anne Tauck Conservation Tract -- received the Florida Public Relations Association's Golden Image Awards in the Video-Institutional category. The five-minute video helped us raise $3 million in private funds toward the acquisition.  |
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Celebrate Labor Day weekend with The Nature Store's Friends and Family Discount. Enter code DING20 at checkout to enjoy 20% off all your purchases* all weekend long. This event only happens once a year, so be sure to share the love and send the code to your friends and family too. Go to ShopDingDarling.com and get all your holiday and birthday shopping done at one stop.
*Federal Duck Stamps and gift cards excluded from discount
Follow the latest gifts available by online order at our Shop Ding Darling Instagram page. Shoppers in the know - more than 200 followers - are the first to learn about what's new on our e-commerce site.
Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts.
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 Support Those Who Support Us
The local and island business community needs us now, more than ever. Each week, we are highlighting local businesses that have provided support for conservation efforts at the Refuge through the years. They have invested in the community and the Refuge, and we hope the community will do what they can to help them.
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Big Red Q Quickprint: Stop in at 1101 Periwinkle Way, Suite 104, to talk to Barry and Nancy Gordon - longtime islanders and printers - about all your printing needs. They are known for their friendly, quick, and quality service. Call 239-472-2121.
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Custom Tees Now: Have you ordered your logo-customized face masks yet? It's just one of many products Custom Tees Now can tailor to your business' needs. "Made by us, designed by you," is the motto. Visit online or call 888-383-4876.
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| Nautical Mile Magazine: Based in Bokeelia, Florida, on Pine Island, Nautical Mile publishes its magazine devoted to fishing, boating, and coastal living, and covering Bradenton to Everglades City quarterly. Its monthly Mullet Wrapper newspaper has an edition covering the Fort Myers area. Both publications are free to read online. You can also subscribe there to its free email newsletters.
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Blast from the Past
December 1, 2020, we take a look back, through the lens of historic photographs, at the past three-quarters of a century.
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| | | Then DDWS President Jim Sprankle at the duck stamp art reception opening | |
One of the most prestigious events in "Ding" Darling history happened in October 2007, when the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service awarded the Refuge the privilege of hosting the 75th Judging of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest, a nod to Jay Darling's role in creating the program and first duck stamp.
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Then Refuge Manager Rob Jess, Lead Ranger Kevin Godsea, and Board Member Jim Scott at the reception opening
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"The event exceeded everybody's expectations, thanks to the incredible working relationship between the DDWS Board and Refuge staff and to the many volunteers from our Refuge and community," wrote then-DDWS President Jim Sprankle in the ensuing Society Pages newsletter. Jim also served as one of the judges who declared Joe Hautman the winner in front of a packed crowd at BIG ARTS on October 13. The Refuge earlier hosted an art show of competition contestants at BIG ARTS, an event captured in these photos.
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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. that is open to the public.
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| | Common Loon, image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
Location: 26,650 acres; Errol, New Hampshire
Totemic Fauna: Common Loon, Moose
Visitor's Tip: Short hiking trails and camping (by reservation only) count among the land-based activities at this largely liquid refuge.
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| | | Moose, image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | |
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| | Sanibel islander Debi Almeida shared this photo taken while she hiked Umbagog trails last week. |
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 Going Green
Solar Savings
A recent survey of savings for this year in the Visitor & Education Center -- thanks to solar power -- revealed these facts on August 31. The panels have saved the Refuge 66.2 MWh, equivalent to:
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Solar panels atop the Visitor & Education Center, made possible by the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society
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· 71 years of running a 100-watt light bulb, or
· 1,125 trees, or
· 38 years of running a refrigerator
Bottom line: Converting to solar power pays!
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Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.
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| | | Photo credit: David Jeffrey | |
"Just practicing for the kickline."
Although this beautiful Tricolored Heron isn't really practicing its dancing, it's definitely doing a great job entertaining us while we're stuck inside.
To 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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75th Anniversary Proclamation at City Hall - November 3, 2020
75th Anniversary Celebration & Gala - December 1, 2020 Sponsors needed!
CALL April at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 to learn about sponsorship opportunities.
Clyde Butcher Book Signing - December TBA
National Bird Day - January 5, 2021
Volunteer Training - January 14, 2021
CALL April at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 to learn about sponsorship opportunities.
2021 Annual Go Wild for "Ding" - February 10, 2021
Earth Day at the Refuge - April 22, 2021
Artist-in-Residence Exhibition - October - Mid-November 2021
Niki Butcher Photographic Exhibition - Mid-November - December 2021
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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 & Sierra Hoisington.
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