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Tips for Attending Lectures
The free "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture Series has become increasingly popular. Because we want to keep the lectures admission-free and we are restricted by the fire department to the number of seats we can fill, the lectures often reach their capacity quickly.
We have compiled
TIPS
to help.
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Congratulations, Sara!
 Best wishes for happiness to our Conservation Educator and her new husband. Sara and Brent Soderholm were wed
on Saturday, February 22. Congratulations to the beautiful bride and her lucky husband!
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A Green Heron captured by Paul McKenney
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TOMORROW:
Trash Fashion Lecture
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Fashion Nancy Judd created out of recycled crime scene tape |
An internationally recognized artist and environmental advocate, Nancy Judd creates eco-fashion sculptures made from trash to engage people in conversations about how we live on Earth. She will speak during two free presentations at the Refuge on Friday, March 13, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., part of the 2020 "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture
series. In conjunction with "Ding" Darling's Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash, Judd will travel to Sanibel Island to share stories and photos of her unusual and inspired career path that took her from barely graduating from high school because
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This year's series is part of the Refuge's 75th anniversary celebration activities.
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While wishing our readers the best of health this challenging flu season, the Refuge would also like to inform visitors of the precautions it is taking in light of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). It will be adding four portable hand sanitizer stations in the Visitor & Education Center by next week and has instructed staff and volunteers at the Refuge and Tarpon Bay Explorers to be vigilant about washing their hands and stepping up sanitization of all touchable surfaces. All facilities and tours remain open, but the Refuge has suspended its loaner binocular program and rovers' spotting scopes services to lessen exposure to volunteers and visitors.
Refuge staff will continue to plan for future disruptions in normal operations and mitigate risks of exposure to staff, volunteers, and visitors where possible. Future decisions to close facilities and programs will be made in consultation with local health officials and recommendations from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Project Refuge Finale Draws Raves
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Left to Right: Second-place winner Linda Lange for Team Cover Story, first-place winner Hayden Lambek for Team Downton Shabby, and third-place winner Jenna Basehart for Team Steel Mary
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The Twist Tie Optional Lunch &
Runway Show brought the Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash to its highly applauded finale Tuesday, March 10, at The Sanctuary Clubhouse on Sanibel Island. Twenty-three designers and designer teams modeled their unique, re-purposed creations on the runway - ranging from a steampunk theme made from recycled bicycle parts to an ensemble fashioned from a FEMA tarp from Hurricane Charley in 2004. Watch next week's "Ding" on the Wing for news about an exhibit of "trashionista" creations at the Visitor & Education Center and a link to a photo/video page where you can vote for YOUR favorites. Sponsors were key to raising important support for conservation education through this event. See our sponsors below.
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Models mingled with the sell-out crowd after the luncheon runway show
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Designers came up with creative and earth-saving fashions.
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A huge thank you to our sponsors that made Project Refuge Couture Fashion Event using Trash event possible.
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March 18: Global Recycling Day at the Refuge
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Make-and-take crafts from recycled materials are part of the free, earth-friendly activities at the Global Recycling Day celebration at the Refuge.
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Play Recycling Trivia, make upcycled crafts, watch a free film, learn about Lee County Solid Waste's recycling program, and take advantage of Refuge Nature Store specials during Global Recycling Day at the Refuge on Wednesday, March 18. Molly Schweers, spokesperson for Lee County Waste Management, will kick off a
day designed for educating the public about the importance of recycling in preserving natural
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Make an Environmental Fashion Statement
In the wake of our Project Refuge
luncheon, attendees learned the value of turning trash into fashion, and there's no more fashionable environmental statement than products from Escama Studio. Each piece is handmade by artisans in Brazil, who use traditional crochet work and piles of post-consumer aluminum scrap to create sustainable and innovative fashion accessories. Included with every item, a hang-tag bears the signature of the artisan who created it. We are proud to offer various styles of jackets and a wide assortment of handbags and clutches from this green, fair-trade company, whose mission of sustainability and recycling follows closely in line with that of the Refuge. You'll get more compliments on Escama products than on any other thing you wear. Ask anyone who owns one.
Stop in the store today or contact Nature Store Manager
Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for information about mail-ordering store products. Visit our
online store for convenient ordering of some of our most popular items.
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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Wednesday, March 18: PBS' The Swamp Film
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A scene from
The Swamp
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The eighth annual "Ding" Darling
Wednesday Film Series
continues its biweekly showings on March 18 with a free airing of the documentary
The Swamp
at 1 p.m. in the Refuge Visitor & Education Center. Produced by PBS, the film is based in part on the book
The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise
by Michael Grunwald, who will present a special sold-out lecture at The Community House on March 20 to benefit Refuge education and conservation programs. Last season, DDWS aired a preview of the documentary prior to its official release. This year, it will show the film in its entirety. The two-hour documentary tells the dramatic story of READ MORE
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Thanks to Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts for sponsorship of the 2020 series.
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Friday, March 20:
Island Conservation Story Lecture
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Historians Betty Anholt and Charles LeBuff teamed up for their latest book about the islands. |
Authors Charles LeBuff and Betty Anholt will talk about their collaborative historic work at two free lectures at the Refuge Visitor & Education Center on Friday, March 20, as part of the 2020
"Ding" Darling Lecture Series. Their slide presentations at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. will cover highlights of their book
Protecting Sanibel and Captiva Islands: The Conservation Story.
Due to illness, the originally scheduled lecturer, Eliot Kleinberg, was forced to cancel. A book-signing with Betty and Charles will follow both lectures. Their book is available
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Can't make it to a lecture? Watch it in real time on Facebook Live.
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Congratulations Conservation 20/20
This month, Lee County celebrates surpassing its 30,000-acre milestone for land that has been approved for purchase by its Conservation 20/20 program. The acquisition and management program for environmentally sensitive land throughout the county began in 1996 by voter referendum. To this date, Conservation 20/20 manages 49 preserves. It has partnered with "Ding" Darling on two Sanibel Island projects - Woodring Point in 2013 and Wulfert Bayous/Lee Anne Tauck Conservation Tract last year.
To celebrate the 30,000-acre milestone, the county has scheduled special recreational events at several preserves along with educational programs at local libraries and other venues. For more information and a schedule, visit leegov.com/2020celebration.
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Another Restrooms Award
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Joann Hinman accepts the national PLS Partnership Award.
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At a recent Public Lands Alliance (PLA) conference in Arlington, Virginia, DDWS and the Refuge received a Public Lands Alliance Partnership Award for their joint efforts in creating America's Best Restroom, as awarded by Cintas Corporation in 2018.
DDWS Office Manager Joann Hinman was attending the conference and was surprised when the recipient of the award for Outstanding Public Engagement for Product or Display was announced. "I had no idea we were even in the running for any awards, so what a pleasant surprise that READ MORE
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'America's Best-Kept Secret'
In each issue of "Ding" on the Wing, we showcase one of the more than 560 refuges across the U.S.A.
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American Black Duck |
Location: 8,219 acres south of Pungo, Virginia
Totemic Flora & Fauna: American Black Duck, Snow Goose, King Rail
Visitor's Tips: Roads through the refuge are gravel and posted at 15 mph.
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| King Rail |
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| Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
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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
Going Green
Although the latest addition to the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle equation is "Refuse," there are going to be times when you are left with an otherwise one-use plastic container. As clearly demonstrated with our Project Refuge initiative, a little creativity can go a long ways in repurposing plastic so it doesn't end up in our landfills and waterways.
BudgetDumpster.com
suggests DIY projects such as creating a vertical garden using soda bottles and turning laundry detergent bottles into beach buckets.
Doing Our Part to Reduce 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, plastic tags, 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 DDWS has transitioned to compostable plates, cups, and flatware for event use. We have a no-straws policy.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.
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| Photo credit: David Jeffrey |
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Talk about a bad hair day..
This Yellow-crowned Night Heron is performing a mating display, which is an important part of attracting a partner before nesting season arrives. Visitors have already begun to see nests at the Refuge, so we hope the mating display ended well!
T
o see more wildlife photos click on our social media links:
If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Officer
Sierra Hoisington
, for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Spring Migratory Sale at Nature Store - April 15, 2020
Earth Day at the Refuge - April 22, 2020
Endangered Species Day at the Refuge
- May 15, 2020
75th Anniversary Island "Spoonie" Island Scavenger Hunt Kick-off - June 1, 2020
"Ding" Grand Marshal in Fourth of July Parade - July 4, 2020
75th Anniversary "Ding": The Man, The Art, The Stories Exhibition Opening
- October 20, 2020
75th Anniversary Proclamation at City Hall - November 3, 2020
Holiday Shopping Night - November 30, 2020
Official 75th
Anniversary Celebration
- December 1, 2020
2021 Annual Fundraiser - February 10, 2021
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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 April Arthur & April Boehnen.
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Thank you to our co-sponsors of the free 12-lecture series, with support from DDWS.
