|
|
|
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
February 2, 2017
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Heart Healthy Month at Ding!
|
 Get outdoors for Heart Healthy Month and take advantage of the free daily programs at "Ding"
Getting outdoors is good for the heart, the mind and your overall body. Click HERE to see the list of free Refuge programs.
|
|
|
|
Just some of the sights you will experience at "Ding" Darling
Photo by Terry Baldwin |
|
|
|
Go Wild for Ding Event
February 8, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tomorrow
February 3: Lecture
A Naturalist Goes Fishing: Casting in Fragile Waters from the Gulf of Mexico to New Zealand's South Island
combines fishing adventures with marine biologist James B. McClintock's overview of pressing needs for freshwater and marine conservation. On Friday, February 3, he will be presenting two free programs at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., part of the 2017 "Ding" Darling Lecture Series at the Refuge. In the tradition of fishing classics,
A Naturalist Goes Fishing
contains elements of the triumph between fisher and fish, humor and wit, and a passionate concern READ MORE
Thank you to our 2017 Series Sponsor:
|
Water Quality Senate Bill
As Senate Bill 10, which outlines a path forward to buy 60,000 acres of land south of Lake Okeechobee and initiate planning of the EAA Reservoir Project, makes its way through Senate committees, please express your support.
What can you do right now?
1. Thank
Senator Bradley
, who introduced the bill. Call, email, or write to his office and let him know that you appreciate his leadership.
2. Spread the word about the bill and its merit for the environment to your friends, and let them know that this is an exciting and much-needed opportunity to improve Florida's water quality. Ask for their help in requesting support for the bill from their elected representatives. Click HERE to find your Florida Senator
3. Reach out to your Florida Senator and Representative. Many of these leaders are currently in their home districts to hear from constituents. Try to set up a meeting, call the office, or send an email. Tell them you support SB10 and let them know why sending clean water south is important to you personally.
If you are not a Florida resident, you can still play a role in helping this bill move forward. You may own a property in Florida, you may be a regular tourist who understands and appreciates the value of clean water to the environment but also to the overall economy.
|
|
Board of Directors 2017
A warm welcome and hearty thanks to this year's Board of Directors: Phyllis Gresham, President Doris Hardy, Vice President Mike Baldwin, Secretary Wendy Kindig; Immediate Past President John McCabe, Treasurer Sarah Ashton, Jennifer McSorley, Brett Gooch, and Bill Valerian. Not pictured: Mark Banks, Jim Hall, Kirstin Sawicki, and Richard Yanke.
|
Two new staff members have joined the Refuge team to fill key positions recently vacated and another has been promoted. "We are so relieved to welcome new staff to lighten the heavy work load caused by severe federal budget cuts," said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland.
"In the past decade, our annual visitor numbers and acreage have grown at the Refuge, while staffing has been cut almost in half. We continue to struggle to keep the Refuge open on a full schedule, but are fortunate for the assistance of a great volunteer corps and interns supported by our
Preston Heaton has been hired as Administrative Support Assistant to support alladministrative functions at the Refuge. He arrives from southern Utah, where he served as an Administrative Assistant for the Bureau of Land Management since 2012, working at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and recently designated Bears Ears National Monument. Preston holds a B.S. in communication studies from Southern Utah University.
Tho
mas Plank
fills a term position as Wildlife Refuge Specialist to assist with refuge man
agement, biology, maintenance, and visitor services. Tom, who holds a B.S. in fisheries and wildlife science from Oregon State University, comes to the Refuge from Bear
Lake National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Idaho, where he has worked as a Biological Technician since June 2016. He has also worked as a Field Technician at Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho and Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.
Also, former Administrative Support Ranger
Ivette Gonzalez
has been promoted to Zone Budget Analyst for three refuge complexes, inclu
ding "Ding" Darling,
Loxahatchee, and Florida Keys.
|
Interested in sponsoring our BIG Go Wild for "Ding" - Give a Hoot fundraiser on February 8? Email or call us at 239.292.0566
Thanks to our growing roll of generous sponsors:
Champion Level Sponsors:
Mark & Gretchen Banks
Wayne & Linda Boyd
John & Kathy McCabe
Protector Level Sponsors:
Sarah Ashton
& Jim Metzler, Mike & Terry Baldwin, Amanda Cross, Don & Ann Marie Wildman
Defender Level Sponsors
Barrier Island Title Service
, Barefoot Charley's Painting Co., Doug & Sherry Gentry,
Greenwood Consulting Group
, John Grey Painting, Phyllis Gresham,
,
Gulf Coast Landscape Nursery & Supply, 50% off Framing, Peter & Paula Bentinck-Smith, John & Kay Morse,Hank & Linda Spire, Tree West LLC
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and joining those listed above, email or call us at 239-292-0566
|
Remember, proceeds from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs and wildlife research.
|
America's Best Kept Secret
Location
: 2,000 acres on Virginia's southernmost barrier island
|
|
 |
|
Osprey. Photos courtesy of USFWS
|
|
Totemic Fauna
: Pelican, Osprey, Diamondback Terrapin
|
|
|
Diamondback Terrapin
|
Visitor's Tip
: Because of the critical
nature of its wildlife habitat, the refuge is closed to the public, but guided tours are offered on Saturdays from October through mid-March, registration required.
|
Volunteer Awards Luncheon - February 10, 2017
- May 19, 2017
|
|
|
|
Tricolored Heron by Mike Roche
|
|
|
|
Eastern Screech Owl by Joann Hinman
|
To 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
Carrie Alexander
for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
|
These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our website at
www.dingdarlingsociety.org to learn more!
Sincerely,
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by Sarah Lathrop, Emily Koval, and Sierra Hoisington.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
