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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
April 26, 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
How can you distinguish a Yellow-billed Cuckoo from a Mangrove Cuckoo? 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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Refuge Postpones Bailey Tract Restoration for Nesting Birds
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The project will restore cordgrass habitat for marsh-specific species.
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A nest of Black-necked Stilts has stalled plans to close the Bailey Tract until the chicks have fledged, possibly by mid-May, Refuge staff announced at three public meetings held April 20 and 23. "The restoration will benefit a number
of the wading and migratory birds and other species that call the Bailey Tract home," said Wildlife Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik. "The restoration has been READ MORE
Click
HERE
to read a related article in the
Santiva Chronicle
.
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Refuge Accepting YCC Applications
The Refuge is accepting applications to
hire 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
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Meet the Photographer: April 30
Bird photographer David Jeffrey is exhibiting 30 bird images in the Visitor &
Education Center Auditorium through April 30, 2018. On the last day of his exhibit,
Monday, April 30, DDWS will host a free "Meet the Artist" reception from
10 a.m. to noon.
David, a talented amateur photographer who winters on Captiva Island, became seriously interested in bird photography in 2010, upon retiring from a career in finance. The self-taught photographer took inspiration from Arthur Morris, author of
The Art of Bird Photography
.
 "I feel a deep connection with the birds I photograph," said David, who lives in Massachusetts, but photographs regularly at the Refuge. "I am particularly pleased if the bird is catching food, trying to attract a mate, building a nest, feeding its young, or trying to frighten off a potential rival.... I am also fond of the portrait-like quality of one or two birds expressing absolute peace. I feel that peace when I photograph them."
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ADVOCACY IN MOTION
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The Refuge Association's Geoff Haskett and Desiree Sorenson-Groves with DDWS Advocacy Committee co-chairs Sarah Ashton and Jim Metzler in Washington
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by Sarah Ashton and Jim Metzler, DDWS Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs
Congressional Visits to Sanibel
On Tuesday, March 27, Senator Bill Nelson's Chief of Staff, Susie Perez-Quinn, visited the DDWS office to discuss the senator's efforts to support the refuge system and water quality initiatives. The meeting gave the attendees the opportunity to READ MORE
Refuge Association Meetings in Washington
On April 17, Advocacy Committee co-chairs Sarah Ashton and Jim Metzler met in Washington, D.C., with members of the National Wildlife Refuge Association: Desiree Sorenson-Groves and Geoff Haskett. The Refuge Association members brought Sarah and Jim up to date on Refuge Association initiatives relative to threats to refuges such as the READ MORE
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Tarpon Tourney Auction Donations Needed
We are still collecting donations of auction items to help raise money for conservation efforts at the Refuge through the "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on May 11. Please call 239-472-1100 ext. 4 if you wish to donate. The tournament raises money strictly through its raffle, silent auction, and sponsors.
Click
here
to see a WINK-TV segment about the tournament, which has raised $330,000 in the past six years.
Thanks to all of our wonderful sponsors who make the tournament a valuable fundraiser for the Refuge each year:
TITLE
CHAMPION Sponsors
PREMIERE Sponsors
PRESENTING Sponsors
PLATINUM Sponsors
GOLD Sponsors
   
SILVER Sponsors
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"Complete disregard for the traffic arrows!"
Photo by Dick Levinson while visiting the Refuge yesterday
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Earth Day at the Refuge
 Refuge visitors on Saturday, April 21, celebrated Earth Day with  nature crafts using recycled materials; photos with Bagzilla, the plastic bag monster; free biking and hiking along Wildlife Drive; a guided bicycle tour; a free airing of the movie
STRAWS
, and fr
ee paper and hay straws. Thanks to
Tarpon Bay E
xplorers
for providing free use of bicycles that day.
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Earth-Friendly Straws
Celebrate Earth Day every day by kicking the plastic straw habit. The Refuge Nature Store is now carrying reusable aluminum straws to purchase singly -- straight or curved ($2.50 each) -- and in recyclable packages of four with a cleaning brush ($12.99) included.
Stop in and pick up your Eco-Straws 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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Snow Geese, image courtesy of Steve Emmons
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Location:
10,819 acres, Willows, California
Totemic fauna:
Snow Goose, Bufflehead, Northern Shoveler
Fun for the Family
: Two auto-tours, two hiking trails, a wildlife exhibit, a Discovery Room, and a bookstore at the visitor center.
Visitor's tip:
Weekend interpretive programs are available.
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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.
The most effective way to prevent marine and aquatic debris is to
prevent waste in the first place. This is known as source reduction, or
pollution prevention. We can
reduce waste by considering packaging when buying anything, and we can
reuse materials like containers and products. We can also substitute disposable items with reusable ones. For example, bring your own silverware and cup to work, rather than use disposables that are tossed every day. Lastly, we can
recycle almost anything
from plastics to electronics, depending on local recycling capabilities.
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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Click
here to see this week's wildlife sightings.
Click
here to view our live webcam on Wildlife Drive.
We love spring here at "Ding" Darling as we get to see so many new birds migrating north for breeding season. Here are a few birds that have been spotted at the Refuge recently:
The
Scarlet Tanager
often forages for berries on its migration path, so look for them in Gumbo Limbo trees here at the Refuge.
Thanks to Rebecca Clemens for the photo.
The
Cape May Warbler
has a unique tongue for a warbler; it is curved and semi-tubular, perfect for sucking nectar out of flowers in its wintering habitat (the Caribbean and Bahamas).
Thanks to Rebecca Clemens for the photo.
While you're on the hunt for the Mangrove Cuckoo, you might mistake this
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
for its elusive cousin. To know the difference, look at its underbelly; the Yellow-billed Cuckoo has an entirely white underbelly, while the Mangrove Cuckoo's underbelly has a peachy tint.
Thanks to Janet Kirk 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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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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