June 30, 2022

July 5: Project Refuge Upcycled Wonders Exhibition Opens

Following an exhibition at Shell Point Retirement Community, a selection of creations from the past two Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash events will be on display in the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center Auditorium July 5 through August 30, daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Project Refuge debuted in 2019 to celebrate the Refuge’s 75th anniversary and raise awareness for recycling. It spawned an encore 2022 fashion show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, which hosted both events. The upcoming free Upcycled Wonders: Project Refuge Designs Exhibition will showcase 18 of the fashions modeled at the events.

Summer Education Intern

Earlier this month, Education Intern Skyler Brennan joined the Refuge team to help with staffing shortages this summer, thanks to funding from DDWS. She will be working with the Visitor Services team to create STEM lesson plans to use with The Sanibel School in the coming school year.

Skyler, a native of Waxhaw, North Carolina, enters her senior year at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, this fall. Majoring in environmental science with a minor in biology, she is working towards her environmental educator certification for the state of North Carolina, has experience teaching at the elementary level, and has studied environmental education.

“The thing I like most about the Refuge is the education about conservation that also comes with visiting the Refuge itself,” said Skyler. “I am excited to help the younger generation learn about the importance of conservation for both wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabit.”

“We are thrilled for Skyler to join the team and look forward to seeing all the creative and fun plans she develops this summer,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland, who heads visitor services at the Refuge.

DDWS provides living stipends and other benefits for about a dozen interns each year. The Refuge supports interns with free housing. For more information about Refuge internship programs and supporting them, contact Sierra Hoisington DDWS Associate Director, at 239-472-1100 ext. 233.

Stephen B. Oresman Intern Project Fund Established

To honor someone they love and admire, the family of Stephen B. Oresman established this permanently endowed intern fund to celebrate his 90th birthday. They presented their gift to him at a family celebration earlier this month.

This internship will be permanent and last for generations, allowing "Ding" Darling interns to enhance their work and experience at the Refuge and take those conservation lessons with them into their careers. This fund will make a difference to the intern, to the Refuge, and ultimately to conservation and future conservation stewards.

Current named endowments that support the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

This Summer: Artist in Residence Appearances

“Ding” Darling 2022-2023 Artist in Residence Jacqui Roch is making her first in-residence visit now through July 21. During that time, she will be doing various appearances on and off the Refuge. Catch her every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon in the Visitor & Education Center Classroom, where she will be creating and chatting with visitors. Also watch the Refuge Eventbrite page for additional Painting on the Porch activities. (Please register in advance; attendance is limited.)

Born in California and raised on Miami Beach, Jacqui terms her style “tropical realism.” Her greatest local inspiration has been, she says, the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve, where she spends much of her time painting plein air. She has recently found inspiration, too, at “Ding” Darling.

“I am so thrilled to be able to call myself artist in residence at this wonderful, natural oasis,” Jacqui says. “It's like getting the backstage pass to meet your favorite band. You really get to immerse yourself in a space that may sometimes be off limits to most and, even better, you meet the people who live and work so hard to maintain the space.”

Help support the artist-in-residence program with philanthropic donations.

Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts.

Cartoon of the Month

In this issue, we begin a new “Ding” on the Wing feature to honor the conservation and art legacy of Refuge namesake, Jay N. “Ding” Darling, who won two Pulitzer Prizes for his widely syndicated political cartoons of the early to mid-20th century. This cartoon, titled “A Nice, Quiet Fourth,” published on July 4, 1941. It addresses, in signature “Ding” satiric style, the nation’s complacency shortly before the U.S. became involved in World War II.

Click cartoon to see it enlarged.

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

What Progress Has Been Made Towards Everglades Restoration?

By Jim Metzler, DDWS Advocacy Committee Co-chair

In the last article, I discussed some of the well-meaning actions taken over decades that helped drive the deterioration of the Everglades. In this article, I will summarize some of the key initiatives that are underway to restore the Everglades, many of which are focused on undoing the harm from previous initiatives. I will also point out why, even if it appears we have made progress towards restoring the Everglades, we must remain vigilant to ensure READ MORE

June Biology Highlights

Refuge Biological Science Technician Avery Renshaw reports on Refuge biology activities for the month. The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society supports her position:

The biology team and Refuge staff worked with Sarah Anderson -- a health, environment, and science journalism master’s student at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism -- on an article explaining how hydrology and nutrient pollution impact mangrove forests in Southwest Florida and the Refuge. She came out on a mangrove restoration trip to Benedict Key, a Refuge-owned mangrove island. It has been experiencing intense erosion due to loss of mangrove root structure. To combat this, island partners are working together to plant mangroves and reestablish an oyster reef to protect the growing mangroves. Sarah's article touches on other Refuge hydrology projects aimed at restoring water flows to mangrove systems such as culvert installations. Another issue the article highlights is the impact of nutrient pollution on mangrove systems. This is an important issue to the Refuge due to the increased threat of water quality issues in the Lake Okeechobee system.
Regular beach shorebirds surveys continue throughout the summer. There are 24 Least Tern nests on the Refuge. They are a state-designated threatened species in Florida.
The bio team, with the help of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, conducted a colonial wading and waterbird nesting survey. We counted 120 Brown Pelican, 116 Double-crested Cormorant, and seven Reddish Egret (state-designated threatened species) nests. All nests were either in the "incubating," "chicks," or "unknown" phase. We are likely in or approaching peak nesting season for many of the species we monitor during these surveys.

Donate to support Avery’s position and biological research at the Refuge.

Photograph: Brown Pelican chicks by Sam Warren, Photojournalism & Education Intern

Intern Thank-You

Former DDWS Development & Communications Intern Christina Hester expressed her gratitude for her experience this season in a thank-you letter:

Dear “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society,

Thank you doesn't even begin to describe my gratitude towards DDWS, DDNWR, the supporters, and everyone who I've had the pleasure of working with in these last nine months. It has been such an amazing experience to be a part of this team where everyone is so welcoming, kind, and supportive.

Throughout my time here, I've been able to gain a deeper understanding and insight into all the different facets that make up conservation. As well as witness firsthand the impact of environmental advocacy and education in creating future stewards. READ MORE

See Christina at her new job at Casey Trees in Washington, D.C. Watch for more news about her latest mission restoring urban tree canopies.

Learn about Refuge internship programs. DDWS supports more than a dozen interns each year. Your donations help with this important program.

Upcoming Free Programs

Artist-in-residence and mindfulness activities, and free Refuge staff programs are underway for the summer. Pre-register each week at DingDarling.Eventbrite.com. The activities below currently are on the calendar, but watch for more to come.

TODAY Thursday, June 30 – Artist-in-Residence Demo, 11 a.m.
Saturday, July 2 – Painting on the Patio: Seashells with Artist in Residence, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, July 5 – Artist-in-Residence Demo, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, July 5 – Meditate among the Mangroves, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 7 – Artist-in-Residence Demo, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, July 12 – Artist-in-Residence Demo, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, July 12 – Meditate among the Mangroves, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 14 – Artist-in-Residence Demo, 11 a.m.
Saturday, July 16 – Morning Mindfulness Beach Stroll, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, July 19 – Artist-in-Residence Demo, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, July 19 – Meditate among the Mangroves, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 21 – Artist-in-Residence Demo, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, July 26 – Meditate among the Mangroves, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 20 – Morning Mindfulness Beach Stroll, 8:30 a.m.

GOING GREEN

SOS: Save Our Scraps

With food costs soaring sky high and the negative impact of food waste on the environment, it’s important to find ways to repurpose food scraps. Italians have a saying for it: niente nella spazzatura. “Nothing goes in the garbage.”

Here are a few of our favorite tips for putting food scraps to delicious, earth-conscious use.

Potato peels: For mashed potatoes, bake the potatoes, then scoop out the flesh and use the shells for cheesy baked potato skins. Or peel the potatoes and search online for recipes to roast or air-fry the peels to make crispy chips.
Egg yolks and whites: For recipes that call for one or the other, save the leftovers. Whites make healthy omelets or scrambles. Use the yolks in custards, lemon curd, or tempera paint.
Leftover avocado: Avocado quickly turns brown and off-flavor after peeling. Once you’ve spread some on your avocado toast, mash the rest and layerin a shallow container. Add a layer of homemade or jarred salsa atop to seal it off from the air. Now you have a ready-made Mex dip that keeps for several days in the fridge.
Chicken and beef bones; onion, celery, and carrot scraps: Freeze the bones to make homemade stock. Once you have amassed enough bones, start keeping veggie scraps in a bag in the fridge to add to the stock.

Have a favorite anti-food waste tip? Email it to us to include in “Ding” on the Wing with credit to you.

Photo by Marc Silver

Wildlife Sightings & Tides

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Herons are taking flight! These young herons are spreading their wings and venturing out from their nests. Unlike adult Yellow-crowned Night Herons, they have a streaky brown appearance. It takes several years for their adult plumage to come in.

If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Assistant Jessica Barry for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.

On Parade

Look for the Refuge team next week in the Sanibel Fourth of July Parade. We’re Grand Marshals this year, and the theme is Red, Wild & Blue.

Earlier this summer, the team participated in the SanCap Chamber of Commerce’s Islands Night baseball game at Hammond Stadium, riding a Tarpon Bay Explorers tram in the pre-game parade.