|
|
|
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
November 2, 2017
|
|
| |
|
|
H
a
p
p
y
H
a
l
l
o
w
e
e
n
!
|
|
|
Halloween Pennant Photo courtesy of Terry Baldwin
|
|
|
| |
|
|
'Feather Jim' Accepts "Ding" Darling Brush of Excellence Award
|
|
 |
|
DDWS President Doris Hardy with award recipient Jim Sprankle and Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland
|
|
At the "Ding" Darling Days finale on Conservation Art Day, October 21, the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society presented island wildlife sculptor and former DDWS board president Jim Sprankle (aka "Feather Jim") with its Brush of Excellence Award. "Jim has proven himself a true renaissance man with his talent and his generosity," said Doris Hardy, DDWS president, who READ MORE
Click
here
to read
Santiva Chronicle
's account of the award.
|
|
Conservation Art Day
Conservation Art Day wrapped up another successful "Ding" Darling Days week on October 21. Stars of the day, five-time Federal Duck Stamp winner Jim Hautman (right) and 2017 Federal Junior Duck Stamp winner Isaac Schreiber spoke to the crowd.
|
|
|
Happy Hour Holiday Shopping
|
|
|
|
Santa's helpers (aka DDWS staff) show off some of the fun gifts you can choose from during Happy Hour Holiday Shopping.
|
|
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 29, the date of the Refuge Nature Store's fifth annual Happy Hour Holiday Shopping event in the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center. The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society will keep the store open two extra hours after the center closes, from 5 to 7 p.m. The Refuge Nature Store has stocked special holiday gift items for READ MORE
|
Registration for 2018 Stokes Tours Now OPEN
Nationally acclaimed bird authors, TV personalities, and longtime Sanibel Island winter residents Don and Lillian Stokes will again contribute their time and expertise to lead two fundraising birders tram tours of the "Ding" Darling Refuge on the morning of Friday, February 9, 2018. Wildlife Drive is normally closed on Fridays, meaning tour participants will have the birds and the Stokes to themselves. Lillian Stokes will speak about and demonstrate bird photography READ MORE
Limited spots available. Click
HERE
to register for the Stokes tours. Or
email
or call 239-472-1100
ext. 4 for reservations
. Full, nonrefundable payment is required to reserve.
|
|
In the News...
Ranking as one of the top 10 Wildlife Eco Tours,
Tarpon Bay Explorers
was featured recently on Flight Network's "The 42 Absolute Best Eco-Adventures in the United States This Year" page. It shined a spotlight on TBE's sunset boat cruise. Click
HERE
to see the coverage.
The shark-eating alligator picture taken at the Refuge many years ago made the news again as a study about gators attacking sharks draws national attention. MSNBC and the
Washington Post
both used the image recently. Click
HERE
to watch the MSNBC clip.
Click
here
to read more about the study.
|
|
Estate Planning 101 - November 30
|
|
|
| Kathleen Johnson |
|
Representatives from three local legal, tax accounting, and financial advisory firms will team up with the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society on
Thursday,
November 30
, for a free Estate Planning 101 panel presentation at the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. with continental breakfast provided by DDWS. Representatives
from
|
|
November 11-12: Fee Free Days
 In observance of Veteran's Day, Wildlife Drive will be open
for
free admission
on Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12. Drive hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. those days.
Please note the Visitor & Education Center will be closed on Friday, November 10 in observance of Veteran's day.
|
|
Farewell to a Dear Friend
On October 12, "Ding" Darling lost a good friend, former DDWS president Mike Cuscaden. He volunteered at the Refuge for 18 years in the Nature Store and at the front desk. Services will be held Wednesday, November 8, at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel Island beginning at 11 a.m. Click
here
to read Mike's obituary.
|
|
#LearningLav on WINK-TV
|
|
| Click above to see the story on WINK TV |
|
|
Luc Century Exclusives Available
Complete your collection of Luc Century etched glass wildlife ornaments now before the holiday rush! The store has a limited supply of ornaments from year's past for $45 each. Choose from the following limited-edition collectibles: 2013 Sea Turtle Hatchling, 2012 Manatee, 2010 Crocodile, 2009 Reddish Egret, 2005 American Alligator, and 2004 Butterfly.
The 2013 ornament showcases baby Loggerhead Sea Turtles hatching from their shells.
|
AT THE REFUGE NATURE STORE
Heritage Pewter
Coffee mugs, shot glasses, beer steins, flasks, paperweights, wallets, and key chains: Pick from our selection of handsome gifts carrying a pewter Sanibel Island logo with the Refuge name. There's something for everyone on
your list in a variety of prices.
HOLIDAY CARDS
Click
HERE
to view our 2017 Refuge Holiday Cards. Each set features three each of five different designs for $14.99. Order now to send for the holidays.
Stop in and pick up your cards, ornaments, and gifts 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, proceeds from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, research and overall conservation efforts.
|
In each issue of "Ding" on the Wing, we showcase one of more than 560 refuges in the U.S.A.
|
|
|
|
Sonoran Pronghorn
|
|
|
|
|
images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
|
|
Location
:
860,000 acres in Ajo, Arizona
|
|
|
Lesser Long-nosed Bat
|
Totemic Fauna
: Lesser Long-nosed Bat, Sonoran Pronghorn
Fun for the Family
: Pollinator trail and auto tour to the top of Child's Mountain
Visitor's Tip
: Contact the refuge to learn about tours and programs.
|
|
Registrations Opening Soon!
Look out for more information.
|
|
Kicking Plastic
"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 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.
In each issue of "Ding" of the Wing, we will share a quick tip on how you can reduce the use of plastic in your life.
Plastic shopping bags.
Plastic bags that end up in the water can be deadly for marine creatures, who often mistake them for a jellyfish snack. Did you know it takes 1,000 years for a shopping bag to decompose? So, to keep plastic bags out of the water and landfills, purchase reusable shopping bags. The "Ding" Darling Nature Store carries a variety of affordable bags, including ones made from recycled plastic bottles. If you do receive a plastic shopping bag, put it to a re-purposed use such as lining a trash can or padding a shipping box.
|
The
American White Pelicans
have landed! We are excited to welcome back our wildlife version of "snow birds'." Thanks Jim Bennight for sharing this photo with us!
A rare sighting for "Ding" Darling, a group of
American Avocets
visited the Refuge this week as well! The American Avocet is a large shorebird with black and white wings and a long upturned bill. It migrates south for the winter, often to Mexico and the southwestern U.S. 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.
|
Veteran's Day Weekend
(fee-free days on Wildlife Drive) -- November 11-12, 2017
Estate Planning 101 - November 30, 2017
Volunteer Holiday Party
- December 15, 2017
Biweekly Wednesday Film Series
-
January 10
- April 4, 2018
Friday Lecture Series
- January 19-April 13, 2018
Volunteer Awards Luncheon - February 9, 2018
Puffin Researcher Stephen W. Kress Dinner - February 22, 2016
|
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 Sierra Hoisington and Amanda Brooks
.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
