April 14, 2022

Reminder: All Refuge facilities remain open for regular hours throughout the weekend including Tarpon Bay Explorers! Enjoy the outdoors and all there is to offer at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

April 22-24: Earth Day Weekend

The Refuge celebrates the 52nd annual Earth Day at two separate events next weekend. On Friday, April 22, it hosts special family activities throughout the day at the Refuge. Two days later, as part of its “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival, it again honors the occasion on Sunday, April 24, at Lakes Park in Fort Myers.

Friday’s free activities begin at 9 a.m. with a ranger-led hike on Indigo Trail, followed by two nature-sketching walks to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk with READ MORE

Visit the Refuge’s Eventbrite page to pre-register for April 22 tours.

Thanks to the following sponsors who have shown their support for this special event.

Great Egret Sponsors: Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille

Great Blue Heron Sponsors: Gretchen Banks, John R. Wood Properties, The Island Sun and The River Weekly News

Reddish Egret Sponsors: Bank of the Islands, Media Source, Mike & Terry Baldwin, Mitchell's Sand Castles

Snowy Egret Sponsors: Florida Southwestern State College Foundation, Florida Weekly, John & Anette Gritti, Jensen's Marina & Cottages, Kearns Restaurant Group, McCallion & McCallion Reality, Parker Waichman LLP, Sanibel Moorings, Southern SnoBalls, Tarpon Bay Explorers; 50% Off Framing

Two Spots Available for 10th Annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament

First come, first served: We have two spots available for the May 13 "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament. There’s a $1,000 entry fee for a team of up to four anglers. Add up to two more for $150 each. Contact April Boehnen at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 to reserve a spot.

Thanks to our tourney sponsors.

Scroll further down to learn about an exciting opportunity to support the tournament by purchasing one-of-a-kind original artwork!

Welcome New Store Staffer

The Refuge Nature Store team welcomes a new parttime employee who mostly will be covering the 2250 Periwinkle location. Strongville, Ohio, native Jackie Aleandri came aboard last week. Retired after more than 20 years with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Department of Pharmacy, she and her family (including Abby, an English pointer mix 4-year-old) now live on Sanibel Island.

“We have been visiting Sanibel and Captiva over 20 years. We decided Sanibel was our dream retirement island,” she said. “My favorite part of the islands is their strong conservation ethic.”

A. Painted Lady by Claire Schie and Anna Hubbard. Modeled by Anna Hubbard

B. Fashion Ova by Kaye Borst. Modeled by Alayna Calkins

C. Paper Bag Princess by Mairin O'Malley and Emma Morris. Modeled by Emma Morris

D. Colorful Palette by Lydia Pierce, Piper Pierce, and Mary Meyer. Modeled by Lydia Pierce

E. Mask-er-piece by Audrina Westland and Kathy Daddato. Modeled by Audrina Westland

Thank you to our 2022 Project Refuge Sponsors.

2022 photos of all designs

Buy NOW and support conservation at "Ding"

Original Tarpon Painting by Ed Anderson

5' x 3' acrylic and ink on canvas

Donated by Ed Anderson to support the 10th Annual Tarpon Tournament,

100% of the proceeds will benefit water and wildlife research and overall conservation efforts. Buy now for $7,500.00

Call April Boehnen at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 or via email

Free Season Refuge Programs

Staff and volunteers are offering a free Winter Refuge Programs through April 16. All programs take place outdoors with a limit of 10 participants.

On the Refuge Eventbrite Page, you will find details of the upcoming week’s tours so you can pre-register. (Please remember to cancel your reservation if you are unable to make it.) Upcoming programs:

Today, April 14: Bailey Tract Walk, 9:30 a.m.
Today, April 14: Gators & Crocs Talk, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, April 15: Birds of the Refuge Walk, 1:30 p.m. (photo above)
Saturday, April 16: Birds of the Refuge Talk, 1:30 p.m.

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

Refuge Spotlight - 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.

Optima National Wildlife Refuge

Location: 4,333 acres; Butler, Oklahoma

Totemic fauna: Rio Grande Turkey, Texas Horned Lizard, Coyote

Visitor tips: Visitors can pick up maps, brochures, and up-to-date information at the complex headquarters at Washita NWR.

Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

GOING GREEN

Save the Food

Forty percent of all food is wasted according to savethefood.com. Consumers are the worst culprits, wasting more than grocery stores and restaurants combined, it says. Visit the website to access valuable tools that help you estimate how to calculate the amount of much food you need to buy for a dinner party, store food properly, find recipes for using leftovers, and other solid tips. Throwing away food can contribute to greenhouse gases and deplete earth resources. Formulate a plan today to start making green buying and usage choices.

Photo by Dwight Bramble

Wildlife Sightings & Tides

As Spring shifts into full bloom, nesting season is well on its way! Green Heron nests have appeared on Indigo Trail and around the Wildlife Education Boardwalk (WEB). The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It often creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, and feathers, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish.

Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.

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.