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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
March 8, 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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Trivia Thursday
Where might you find a Clapper Rail on the Refuge? Find the answer somewhere in the 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, March 9:
Birds of Prey Lectures
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Osprey with fish image by Kevin Karlson
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An accomplished birder, professional tour leader, and wildlife photographer, Kevin Karlson has published a number of bird- and nature-related articles for magazines, books, and journals. On Friday, March 9, he will be presenting three free programs at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., part of the 2018
"Ding" Darling Lecture Series
at the Refuge.
Released in April 2017,
Birds of Prey: Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, and Vultures of North America
was co-authored by Karlson with Pete Dunne. Karlson's presentations will begin with a video introduction by Dunne. The photographer will present all the raptor groups with images from the book and share his stories about READ MORE
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Wildlands Philanthropy Lectures
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Tom Butler's book is for sale in the Refuge Nature Store, proceeds from which benefit Refuge wildlife research, conservation, and education programs.
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In the oversized, richly illustrated coffee table compendium
Wildlands Philanthropy: The Great American Tradition, author Tom Butler tells the stories of dozens of generous, conservation-minded Americans who have helped save the nation's wilderness. On
Friday, March 16, the author will be presenting two free programs at
10 a.m. and 1 p.m., part of the 2018
"Ding" Darling Lecture Series at the Refuge.
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| Sponsor of the 2018 "Ding" Darling Lecture Series |
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Vice president for conservation advocacy for Tompkins Conservation and past board president of Northeast Wilderness Trust regional land trust, Butler is a longtime conservation activist focused on wilderness and
READ MORE
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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Temporary Bailey Tract Closing
As part of a habitat restoration project, a section of the Bailey Tract trail will be closed through Friday evening. The Refuge asks your cooperation in avoiding that section of trail and returning to the trailhead in the same direction you arrived.
Please, for your own safety, do not pass barricades.
The bulk of the restoration project will happen after season starting in mid-April, but this part of the project became necessary because of an equipment-sharing program with other refuges.
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Birgie Submits Resignation Notice for Early Summer
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Refuge Ranger Paul Tritaik, Birgie, Deputy Refuge Ranger Nate Caswell, and Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland gather at Birgie's pet project.
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Birgie Miller, DDWS Executive Director since 2010, has tendered notice of her resignation to the Board of Directors, effective summer 2018. "I am making a life change and leaving the island," said Birgie. "But because of my commitment and loyalty to the 'Ding' family, I felt the responsibility to let them know even before I knew where
READ MORE
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Teacher Grant Program
Recently, members of the DDWS Education Committee visited Patriot Elementary School in Cape Coral to observe the fourth-graders at work on their "Heroes of the Environment" project, funded by a 2017-18 DDWS Conservation Education Grant. "They planted sunflower seeds and have watched their growth before and after pollutants were added," said Committee Chair Wendy Kindig. "The students were engaged in the process, so it was fun to watch. They really seemed to enjoy their experiment."
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March 31 Scholarship Deadline
Application deadline for 14 conservation scholarships starting at $1,000 each is March 31, 2018. High school seniors, college, and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties pursuing degrees in environmental-related studies may apply. This is the 12th year that DDWS will be awarding scholarships. The program began in 2005 with scholarship awards in 2006 from
Tarpon Bay Explorers
, the Refuge's official recreation concessionaire. To date,
DDWS has awarded $97,000
. "Tarpon Bay Explorers started the program by READ MORE
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Bid for Art Glass
This beautiful, original piece of artist-created fused glass is now open to
phone auction through May 9.
Donated by
Chris and Kristy Sammet, part-time residents of Sanibel, this one-of-a-kind piece is
valued at $2,500 This undersea-motif piece comes on a lighted base. Buy now for $2,500 or start the bidding at $500.
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Society Founder Awards
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DDWS President Mike Baldwin and Immediate Past President Doris Hardy present Bill and Jeanne Rankin (seated) with their Founder Awards.
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During a special presentation at the February 28 Board of Directors meeting, DDWS presented Bill and Jeanne Rankin with Founder Awards. The new awards go to individuals who made a vital contribution to the success of the Society within the first 10 years of its foundation. Earlier recipients in December included Millie Ford and Marilyn Kloosterman.
Those selected as a Society Founder are recognized with their name on a wall plaque specifically designed for this purpose and displayed in the Society's offices.
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"Ding" Darling at the Shell Show
"Ding" Darling volunteers Bob and Joan Gonser entered the Sanibel Shell Show last weekend with this sculpture inspired by "Ding" Darling. View the sculpture on display in the Nature Store to see up close the crabs, alligators, Refuge Ranger, and other details sculpted out of shells.
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Gifts for Pisces Peeps
Looking for a birthday present for that sign of Pisces friend or relative? There's a lot fishy about our gift selection
at the Nature Store.
Stop in and pick up your gifts 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 at the Nature Store. 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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Images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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Location:
25,747 acres in Kenmare, North Dakota
Totemic fauna:
Sprague's Pipit, Blue-winged Teal
Fun for the Family
:
The 7-mile auto tour is open May through September.
Visitor's tips: View Sharp-tailed Grouse dancing grounds from blinds mid-April to early May (call for reservations).
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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.
Plastic Crisis
"The amount of plastics that ends up in our oceans is reaching crisis proportions," says a recent bulletin from the Rachel Carson Council. "Plastic pollution is not only threatening our waters and marine life, but also the human food chain and our health," the report continues.
A couple of disturbing facts from the bulletin:
Click
here
to read the report in its entirety.
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Click
here to see this week's wildlife sightings
Moments like these are inspiring to all of us here at "Ding!" From Lillian Stokes: "Short-tailed Hawk, rare sighting yesterday over Ding Darling NWR. The best thing about this photo is that I was standing next to an 8 year old boy helping him learn some of the herons in front of us. Then he told me that he would really like to get into learning raptors. I said raptors are what got me started in birding. Then the Short-tailed Hawk flew over. After the excitement died down, and he loved the fact I could get a photo of it, I told him when he got older he could do that too! His mom was looking on and approved. And that's how it can start..."
You might be able to find
Clapper Rails
like this one hiding among the reeds and grasses at the edge of a marsh. However, rails are secretive birds and blend in with marsh vegetation, as most are colored dull brown or gray.
Thanks to Diane Doran for the photo.
Did you know?
Golden Silk Orb Weavers are named for the yellow color of the silk they use to construct their webs. Their webs can be up to 1.5 meters wide and give off a golden shine in sunlight.
Thanks to Marjorie Ellison for the photo.
T
o see more wildlife photos like this one, 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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 7th annual tarpon tournament is coming soon.
Thanks to our newest sponsor:
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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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