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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
April 12, 2018
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Refuge funding continues to decline; private philanthropic support helps fill in the gaps. Thank you for your support.
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Bailey Tract Closing Soon
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Bailey Tract will close to all foot and bicycle traffic later this month.
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Stay tuned to "Ding" on the Wing and our social media pages for the official announcement of the temporary closing of Bailey Tract. The closing will facilitate habitat restoration at the Tract and ensure public safety during construction.
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Trivia Thursday
Where do Northern Gannets breed? Find the answer somewhere in this newsletter.
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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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TOMORROW, April 13:
Swallow-tailed Kites
Final Lecture
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Dr. Meyer in the field working with Swallow-tailed Kites
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Dr. Kenneth Meyer has twice received a Partners in Flight National Research Award for studying the conservation biology of species at risk, and also a National Wildlife Stewardship Award from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative for research on swallow-tailed kites. On Friday, April 13, he will be presenting two free programs titled "Swallow-tailed Kites: 10,000 Miles to Survival" at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., the last of the
2018 "Ding" Darling Lecture Series
at the Refuge. Prior to the 1900s, Swallow-tailed Kites nested in 21 states, but a decline from 1880 to 1940 resulted in the current scattered population mainly in six southeastern states, including Florida. Since 1996, READ MORE
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| Sponsor of the 2018 "Ding" Darling Lecture Series |
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Lecture Seating Policy
Seating for the lectures is limited and available on a first-come basis. Early arrivals can save one extra seat each with personal items and then may explore the Visitor & Education Center or Indigo Trail before the lecture starts.
Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before lecture time.
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Saturday, April 21:
Earth Day at the Refuge
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Join Refuge staff and volunteers in making Earth Day crafts.
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Bike or hike Wildlife Drive for free, watch a free film, and take advantage of free upcycle projects at this year's Earth Day at the Refuge on Saturday, April 21.
The Refuge will celebrate the 48th anniversary of Earth Day in partnership with Ding" Darling Wildlife Society and
Tarpon Bay Explorers
. The morning's highlights will include READ MORE
Click
here
for the Earth Day flyer.
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Green Anole Sighting
DDWS staffers took an office break and enjoyed a refreshing afternoon hike down Indigo Trail. They were fortunate enough to spot this Green Anole and were even able to snap a quick photo. The Green Anole is a treat to see, as their population has declined from the establishment of the nonnative Cuban Brown Anole. The Green Anole is the only anole native to the United States.
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Refuge Accepting YCC Applications
The Refuge is hiring three high school students for its annual
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
summer program to assist with maintenance and visitor services.
Deadline for applications is 4 p.m, Thursday, May 10, 2018.
Required participation for the YCC Program: June 11 -August 3, 2018.
Compensation: $9 per hour
Work hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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LearningLav News
With the Learning Lavatories exhibit now wrapped up, we have created a
Facebook Album
of images recording views and details of the exhibit. Have a look and stay tuned for news about entering LearningLav into the America's Best Bathroom Contest
this year. (#LearningLav)
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For Our ManateeHeads
You've heard of ParrotHeads, right? Well, here at "Ding" we run into a lot of "ManateeHeads." And we have just the thing for your summer wardrobe. Our blue manatee baseball hats and visors keep the sun out of your eyes while you're out their searching for manatees doing their spring mating rituals in our wetlands. Cool ManateeHeads will prevail! They cost $25 each.
Stop in and pick up your Manatee headgear today. Or contact Store Manager
Jeanne Walsh at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for more information about mail-ordering these and other
featured products.
Remember, members of "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society receive a 10% discount. Proceeds 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 more than 560 refuges in the U.S.A.
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The refuge is known for its spring wildflowers. Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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Location:
10,528 acres, Eagle Lake, Texas
Totemic fauna:
Attwater's Prairie Chicken, Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Fun for the Family
: A 5-mile auto tour and two hiking trails are available. Reserve your spots for a guided van tour.
Visitor's tips:
Attend the Annual Attwater Prairie Chicken Festival this weekend.
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Black-bellied Whistling Duck, image courtesy of Ducks Unlimited
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Attwater's Prairie Chicken, image by Nappadal Paothong
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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.
Shout-Out to Blue Giraffe
Our compliments to
Blue Giraffe Island Dining
for making the smart decision to go completely straw-less. The owners have joined a growing number of restaurants and caterers on the island who have ended their use of plastic straws, one of the worst plastic offenders on the planet. Not only are they not recyclable, they harm sea turtles and other marine creatures. Let your favorite restaurants and bar know that you "don't suck," and would like them to help put an end to the straw affliction.
Reduce Plastic in Your Life
"Ding" Darling is committed to and has led the way on the islands in reducing the single-use plastic products that plague our planet and threaten wildlife. Thanks to DDWS' efforts, we have eliminated plastic shopping bags and one-time-use plastic water bottles in the Refuge Nature Store and at Tarpon Bay Explorers' gift shop. In recent years, the Refuge has also installed a filtered water refill station and transitioned to compostable plates, cups, and flatware for event use.
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Seeking Auction Donations
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Past year's silent auction at the Tarpon Tournament
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We are still accepting silent
auction donations for the s
eventh annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament
on May 11. A total of 55 teams - more than 200 anglers -- will be attending the Captain's Dinner and Silent Auction event the evening before at
Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille on Fort Myers Beach. It's a great way to get your name and product in front of big-spending anglers. Contact
Sarah Lathrop
at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 to donate.
Thanks to all of our wonderful sponsors who make the tournament a valuable fundraiser for the Refuge each year.
To date, more than $330,000 has been raised from this tournament to support conservation efforts at the Refuge.
TITLE
CHAMPION Sponsors
PREMIERE Sponsors
PRESENTING Sponsors
PLATINUM Sponsors
GOLD Sponsors
   
SILVER Sponsors
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Click
here to see this week's wildlife sightings
While these weren't photographed at the Refuge, this RARE WILDLIFE SIGHTING deserves a spotlight in our "Ding" on the Wing.
Northern Gannets (two adult and a juvenile) were spotted flying off of Bowman's Beach.
More of the Northern Gannets. Did you know?: There are only six breeding colonies of Northern Gannets in North America: three in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec, and three off the coast of Newfoundland. They spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to nest.
Thanks to Frank Brinker for the photos.
Also not photographed at the Refuge, this Marbled Godwit (on the left) was spotted at Old Blind Pass. Rare to see on Sanibel in the Spring, Marbled Godwits migrate to and breed in the Northern Plains of the U.S. after wintering on the coast.
Thanks to Frank Brinker for the photo.
These students on a field trip to the Refuge got quite the wildlife viewing experience this week! Nesting activity at the WEB has been heating up this spring: a female
Alligator has been spotted with several babies, and
Anhingas and
Yellow-Crowned Night Herons have created nests visible from the boardwalk. Happy Spring!
T
o see more wildlife photos like these, 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 Philanthropic Coordinator,
Carrie Alexander, for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Volunteer Holiday Luncheon
- December 14, 2018
Volunteer Awards Luncheon - February 8, 2019
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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 Sierra Hoisington and Amanda Brooks
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