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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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We WON! Click
HERE to read more about America's best restroom.
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Doing it for 'Ding'
A shout-out to volunteer Greg Scherer, working out in the sun to paint the Visitor & Education Center decking. With a smile on his face! We have the best volunteers ever!
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Free Summer Programs
Begin June 5
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Family Beach Walk is scheduled for every Friday at 9 a.m.
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Wildlife Wonders talks, weekly walks, and nature crafts highlight the free summer programs running June 5 through August 3, 2019, at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Summer programming is made possible by READ MORE
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 Earth Day at the Refuge
Some 1,000 people visited the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center on Monday to celebrate Earth Day. They participated in a Refuge clean-up program, watched films, made crafts out of recycled materials, met Bagzilla the "plastic bag monster," and participated in a number of programs that day.
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Farewell to a Friend
 "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society and the Refuge lost a loyal, valued friend on April 7 with the passing of Dick Hulit. Dick served on the DDWS Board of Directors for 13 years, from July 1994 to December 2007. He was elected to the Emeritus Board in 2007. A memorial service to celebrate Dick's life will be held at the Sanibel Congregation United Church of Christ on April 26. Click
HERE
to read Dick's obituary.
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68-Acre Acquisition Campaign - $2.7 million raised in gifts and pledges toward the goal of $3 million in private support.
The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society
continues to move
forward with its project to raise a minimum of $3 million in private donations to complete the $9.5 million acquisition of Wulfert Bayous, the last large parcel of unprotected and undeveloped land on Sanibel Island. People are calling in with support every day and please know how much it is appreciated. We continue to work with Lee County Conservation 20/20 for the possibility of receiving the remaining amount to purchase and protect this important property.
Click
HERE
to read more about the project and to make contributions.
Click
HERE
to watch our video about the Wulfert Bayous' preservation campaign.
To make donations or pledges in person,
contact Birgie Miller
, DDWS Executive Director at 239.292.0566.
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Welcome New Wildlife Refuge Specialist
Bob Gerwig returned to the Refuge on April 15 as the new Wildlife Refuge Specialist, "a jack of all trades," as he describes the position. He had worked previously at "Ding" Darling in the summer of 2009 as the lead for the Youth Conservation Corps students. Following that, he worked full-time for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery in Washington State, rising to the position of assistant manager.
Bob, who studied biology at Southern Illinois University, will be assisting the Refuge for a four-year term with biology, maintenance, and administrative teams. "This is coming full circle," said Bob, who became a fan of the Refuge as a child in the 1970s while visiting family. "The Refuge is exactly what made me want to go into the field."
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Proposed Fee Changes: Refuge Seeks Public Comment
The Refuge continues to accept public comments on proposed changes to the Refuge's recreation fee structure, scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2020. From April 1 through May 31, 2019, comments can be submitted to "Ding" Darling via email (dingdarling@fws.gov), phone (239-472-1100), or mail (1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, Florida 33957). READ MORE
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Tarpon Tournament in One Week!
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DDWS Executive Director and tournament organizer Birgie Miller with Marty and Brenda Harrity, co-owners of tourney title sponsor Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille.
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Click
here
for a sneak peek of unique items attendees can bid on this year. (Just in time for Mother's Day.)
The tournament benefits wildlife and conservation education at the Refuge entirely through silent auction and sponsorships.
Thanks to the sponsors below who have stepped up to make this another stellar event.
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TITLE SPONSOR
STARTING POSITION SPONSOR
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The Ultimate Beach Towel
Our new Dock & Bay towels are the original quick-dry beach and travel towels. Sand shakes right out of them, they absorb more than
their weight in water, they are light and compact, and they don't hold onto damp odors. We carry the large size (63-inch x 31-inch) in several different colors including the three pictured below: Swedish Style, Rainbow Skies and Kuta Pink.
Stop in and pick up your towels on the way to the beach. Or contact Store Manager
Ann-Marie Wildman
at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for more information about mail-ordering these to anywhere in the U.S.
Remember, members of "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society receive a 10% discount at the Nature Store. Profits 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 the more than 560 refuges across the U.S.A.
Location:
Winthrop, Washington (42 acres)
Totemic Fauna:
Spring Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Beaver
Fun for the Family
: The Methow Valley Community Trail provides 34 miles of cycling, and a trailhead is located on the corner of the hatchery.
Visitor's Tip:
"The best time to go is in August when the Spring Chinook Salmon are spawning," says Bob Gerwig.
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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 Bottles Lead the List of Pollution Culprits
According to a
recent article in Fast Company
, plastic bottles hold the dubious lead in threatening our waterways. It published this breakdown of culprits that pollute our rivers and oceans.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings
David Jeffrey captured an Osprey and juvenile Bald Eagle quarreling mid-flight.
T
o see more wildlife photos 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 Development Officer,
Sierra Hoisington, for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Stay tuned as we reveal our calendar of special activities to celebrate the Refuge's 75th anniversary starting later this year. |
75th Anniversary Artist "in Residence"* Program - May 15-July 1, 2019
Clyde Butcher Photography 75th Anniversary Exhibition
- November 10, 2019-February 8, 2020
75th Anniversary Happy Hour Holiday Shopping
- December 1, 2019
75th Anniversary Lecture Series
- January 24-April 10, 2020
75th Anniversary Go Wild for "Ding"
- February 12, 2020
75th Anniversary Artist in Residence Program
- May 15-July 15, 2020
Official 75th Anniversary Celebration
- December 1, 2020
*the artist will be living at his off-site studio with programming at the Refuge during this time
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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 Christopher Gutierrez & April Boehnen.
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