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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
March 2, 2017
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Lecture TOMORROW
Friday, March 3
Human and wildlife forensics both use science to link a suspect to a crime scene and victim. Yet while human forensic scientists deal with just one species of victim -- homo sapiens -- wildlife forensic scientists deal with thousands. Using real life stories from around the world, Dr. Laurel Neme, author of
Animal Investigators: How the World's First Forensic Lab Is Solving Crimes & Saving Endangered Species
, will explain the different ways innovative science uses a variety of techniques
READ MORE
Thank you to our 2017 Lecture Series Sponsor
Seating Policy: Seating for all lectures in the Visitor & Education Center Auditorium is limited and available on a first-come basis. Early arrivals can save one seat each and then may explore the Visitor & Education Center or Indigo Trail before the lecture starts. Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before lecture time.
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Brian J. Olsen and Jennifer D. McCabe
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Friday, March 10: Birds & Climate-Change Lecture
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing bird populations today. It impacts their movement patterns, reproduction, and survival. It's not just about warmer temperatures, however, say avian researchers Jennifer D. McCabe and Brian J. Olsen. They will discuss how changing winds, sea levels, and the timing of biological events are impacting songbirds in North America and what concrete actions might prevent the loss of species.
Their two free "Migratory Birds in a Climate Changing World" presentations take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, March 10, as part of the 2017 "Ding" Darling
Lecture Series. Jennifer, who trained as a
READ MORE
Thank you to our 2017 Lecture Series Sponsor
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Douglas Brinkley, March 14
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Douglas Brinkley signs copies of his book at an earlier Refuge visit.
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Only 30 spots Remain!
Douglas Brinkley, one of America's most renowned contemporary historians, returns to Sanibel Island for a private dinner and lecture in his honor and in honor of the National Wildlife Refuge System's anniversary on March 14, 2017. At the Refuge Visitor & Education Center, he will speaking about his new book,
Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America,
with dinner to follow. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society hosts the exclusive Dinner with Douglas Brinkley starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 each for the event, of which $75 is tax deductible. Available seating is limited to the first 100 reservations. Contact
Carrie Alexander
at 239-472-1100 ext. 256 or
click here
to reserve.
History commentator for CBS News, Douglas Brinkley is READ MORE
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This week President Trump announced that his fiscal year 2018 budget would call for a $54 billion increase in defense spending at the expense of all other discretionary programs, including our National Wildlife Refuge System.
Speak up today!
to learn more and to let your congressional representation know that
drastic budget cuts to the NWRS are NOT an option.
This aggressive budgetary action would slash all non-defense discretionary spending by 10%. For the Refuge System, a 10% cut is almost $50 million below its current insufficient budget of $481.4 million, resulting in a dismal bottom line of $433.3 million.
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Fred and Alice Stanback with San-Cap Solar Connect installer
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March 27: Go Solar, Sanibel! Our Legacy Continues
Two island organizations are pairing up to host "Go Solar, Sanibel!" -- a program about solar energy for island residents and businesses that
takes up where the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society's San-Cap Solar Connect left off last March. The
League of Women Voters of Sanibel and the Green Team of the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ (SCUCC) will bring James M. Fenton, Ph.D., the director of the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), to Sanibel to talk about recent changes in the market that are making solar energy less costly. The program will start at 6 p.m. on
Monday, March 27, at SCUCC, 2050 Periwinkle Way
. Admission is free. Dr. Fenton's presentation
READ MORE
"I am very pleased with my solar installation," said Fred Stanback, whom, with his wife Alice, provided partial funding for San-Cap Solar Connect. "For the first 10 months it has produced more power than we have used, so that my only electric bill has been the $20.34 monthly fee to be connected to the grid." Theirs was one of 24 installations on the island effected by DDWS' initiative.
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Rice Rat Study Update
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Rice Rat in natural island habitat
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Wesley Boone, University of Florida team leader of the DDWS-funded Sanibel Island Rice Rat research team, reports that the team has concluded its fourth of six field research seasons in February. "This field season was noteworthy because of the high numbers of Rice Rats captured relative to past seasons of summer 2016, winter 2015-2016, and summer 2015." Twenty-five individuals were caught this winter. The previous record high was nine individuals.
"Large population fluctuations over relatively short time periods are not uncommon among rodent species, but they are worthy of further investigation," said Wesley. Future data analysis efforts will focus on determining which environmental and/or vegetative variables account for these recent population fluctuations. Two more field seasons remain: summer 2017 and winter 2017-2018.
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2016 scholarship donors and recipients with "Ding" Education Committee member Wendy Kindig (far left) and Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik
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Scholarship Application Deadline
Application deadline for about a dozen scholarships from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS), ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 or more each, is March 31, 2017. High school seniors, and college and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties pursuing degrees in environmental-related studies can apply. The scholarships will be awarded at a special ceremony READ MORE
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Still Looking for Mullet?
Our film series sparked an interest in eating local striped mullet following our airing of the WGCU documentary
Mullet: The Tale of Two Fish
. In response, WGCU has posted a blog on its Sustainable Seafood page about it and another local sustainable species, titled
"Where to Find Pink Shrimp & Striped Mullet."
Read it and eat!
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| Caroline Nuckolls' Audubon-inspired Female Cardinal |
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Audubon-Inspired Art Exhibit
A group of local fine artists will be displaying their works at the Refuge Visitor & Education Center Auditorium from March 8 through April 30, 2017. Cello Bennett, widow of the late artist Gale Bennett (1939-2008), curates "Audubon Inspiration," along with artists Marcy Calkins and Jane Hudson. Before his death in 2008, Gale Bennett, a local artist with an international reputation, taught for 40 years at art centers in the area. He was planning a series of paintings inspired by the works of famed bird artist John James Audubon. "Unfortunately Gale did not live long enough READ MORE
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DYS COO Ryan Levi with DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller.
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DYS 2016 Tarpon Tourney Premier Sponsors
Diversified Yacht Services (DWY) of Fort Myers Beach will again support the sixth annual
"Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on
Friday, May 19, at Premier Sponsors level. Registration for the 50 available boat entries has already filled as anglers anticipate another exciting tournament with the highest purse ever, due to a rollover because last year's tournament resulted in only two winning teams.
As 100% of the purse goes to awards, we raise money from this fundraiser for the Refuge strictly through
sponsorships and silent auction. For information on becoming a sponsor or auction donor or to add your team to the tourney waiting list, please contact Executive Director Birgie Miller by
email or phone
(239-292-0566
).
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6th Annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament
TITLE SPONSOR:
PREMIER SPONSORS:
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
Mark & Gretchen Banks
GOLD SPONSORS:
,
SILVER SPONSORS:
Sponsorships are still available! If you are interested in learning more
click here
or contact Executive Director Birgie Miller at (
239) 292-0566.
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What does it take to make a jar of honey? They don't call them "busy bees" for nothing, and this new T-shirt tells the whole story while pledging respect for the world's dwindling honey bee populations. In honey-bee yellow and black, the adult T-shirts cost $13.99. They are selling fast, so stop in and pick up yours today, or call Store Manager
Jeanne Walsh
at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for more information about this and
other featured products
.
All proceeds from 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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Loggerhead Sea Turtle hatchling; photos courtesy of USFWS |
Location
:
5,834 acres of land and 25,700 acres of Proclamation Boundary waters at the north end of Hatteras Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks
Totemic Fauna
:
American Oystercatcher, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, and Red Wolf
Fun for the Family
:
Free guided hike on short nature trail behind the visitors center, geared towards children ages 5 and under
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A Yellow-crowned Night Heron perches on its nest.
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A preening Great Egret spotted at the Bailey Tract - thanks to Marjorie Ellison for the photo
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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 Society intern
Carrie Alexander
for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Earth Day - April 22, 2017
-
May 19, 2017
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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 and intern Carrie Alexander
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