April 21, 2022

This Weekend: 'Ding' Day/Earth Day Celebrations

The Refuge celebrates the 52nd annual Earth Day on two separate occasions this weekend. On Friday, April 22, it hosts special family activities throughout the day at the Refuge. Two days later, as part of its “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival, it again honors the occasion on Sunday, April 24, at Lakes Park in Fort Myers.

Friday’s free activities begin at 9 a.m. with a ranger-led hike on Indigo Trail, followed by two nature-sketching walks to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk with READ MORE

Visit the Refuge’s Eventbrite page to pre-register for April 22 tours.

Photograph: Past Artist in Residence Rachel Pierce and upcoming Artist in Residence Jacqui Roch will be demonstrating plein-air on “Ding” Darling Day.

Thanks to the following sponsors who have already shown their support:

Great Egret Sponsors: Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille

Great Blue Heron Sponsors: Gretchen Banks, John R. Wood Properties, The Island Sun and The River Weekly News

Reddish Egret Sponsors: Bank of the Islands, Media Source, Mike & Terry Baldwin, Mitchell's Sand Castles

Snowy Egret Sponsors: Florida Southwestern State College Foundation, Florida Weekly, John & Anette Gritti, Jensen's Marina & Cottages, Kearns Restaurant Group, McCallion & McCallion Reality, Parker Waichman LLP, Sanibel Moorings, Southern SnoBalls, Tarpon Bay Explorers; 50% Off Framing, West Wind Inn, Stewart & Sons Insurance Inc., Homelight

Donated by Two Lane Lager and Suncoast Beverage to support the 10 Annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament. 100% of the proceeds will benefit water and wildlife research and overall conservation efforts. Donation is 100% tax deductible.

'Pocket Refuge' Program

Each year since 2005, the Refuge, in partnership with DDWS, has awarded conservation grants to local teachers for class science projects related to studying the environment. This year’s Environmental Education Grant program has created “Pocket Refuges” at eight Lee County district schools to teach students about the importance of pollinators and the habitat that sustains them. Working with district Environmental Education Resource Susan Hassett, DDWS has distributed a total of more than $12,000 ($1,500-plus to each of the schools) to buy supplies from a menu of native plants, bird houses, trail cameras, solar-powered fountains, and other enhancements to create native pollinator gardens. Schools submitted READ MORE

Three Tourney Spots Available

First come, first served: We have three spots available for the May 13 "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament. There’s a $1,000 entry fee for a team of up to four anglers. Add up to two more for $150 each. More than $60,000 in prizes! Contact April Boehnen or 239-472-1100 ext. 4 to reserve a spot.

2022 Tournament Sponsors

Thanks to the following sponsors who have already shown their support:

Title Sponsor: Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille

Silver King Anniversary Sponsors: Bill & Laurie Harkey, Raiser's Edge, The Szymanczyk Family

Premiere Sponsor: Cast About Charters

Presenting Sponsors: Captain Diva, David & Judy Baum, Two Lane Lager

Platinum Sponsors: Diversified Yacht Services, Law Office of Christopher G. Hill, Organzied Chaos, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Shawn Kelly Fishing Charters, CustomTeesNow, YETI, Whitney's Bait & Tackle

Gold Sponsor: Anisa Stewart Jewelry, Captain Matt Mitchell Fishing Charters, Fort Myers Brewing Company, Jeff & Toni Kordell, Mabry Brothers Inc., Milestone Auctions, On Island, R.S. Walsh Landscaping, Trophy Case of Fort Myers, Dave & Denise Bunning, Bay Marine, Fort Myers Marine, Congress Jewelers

Silver Sponsors: Captiva Cruises, Peter & Barb Rogers, Law Office of Janet M. Strickland, Island Sun, Bailey's General Store, Grandstand, Florida Weekly, Taylor & Betsy Hay, Jensen's Marina & Cottages, Luc Century, Over Easy Cafe

Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts.

Summer Fees for Wildlife Drive

Admission fees for Wildlife Drive remain the same after season’s end. The $10 vehicle fee, however, holds good for three days of admission starting annually on May 1 and running through September. Keep your receipt to show at the entrance fee booth upon returning. Daily fees for cyclists and pedestrians are still $1 each visit for ages 16 and older.

Your fee-booth vehicle admission buys three days of visiting this summer.

Original Tarpon Painting by Artist Ed Anderson Sold

Special thanks to a Tarpon Tournament angler and supporter who purchased the Tarpon acrylic and ink painting created and donated by Ed Anderson. 100% of the proceeds will benefit water and wildlife research and overall conservation efforts.

Intern Thank-You

Former WoW Intern Kimi Birrer expressed her gratitude for her experience this season in a thank-you letter:

To “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society,

I would like to thank the Society for the opportunities allotted to me in my time with the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge as one of the WoW (Wildlife on Wheels) interns.

Every connection I made with the children I worked with gave me a reason to keep trying. Their love and passion for our native wildlife and science encouraged and inspired me to READ MORE

Learn about Refuge internship programs. DDWS supports more than a dozen interns each year. Your donations help with this important program.

Kimi working with students in the

WoW mobile classroom.

Refuge Spotlight - 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.

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Location: 7,768 acres; 26 miles west of Manhattan’s Times Square

Totemic fauna: Bog Turtle, Blue-spotted Salamander

Visitor tips: Its 11.5 miles of trails can get wet most of the year, so wear appropriate footwear.

Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

GOING GREEN

Water Smartly

April is Water Conservation Month, but we urge readers to employ water-saving tactics year-round. One way to conserve our water resources is by planting native vegetation, which does not require as much water. Also consider installing low-flow sprinkler heads on irrigation systems. Low-flow sprinkler heads spray less water but operate for a longer period so water has the opportunity to properly absorb into the soil. They permit homeowners to save money while being environmentally friendly.

Photo by Peg d'Entremont

Wildlife Sightings & Tides

Visitors at the Bailey Tract have reported sightings of Killdeer and their chicks. These small shorebirds are known for their broken-wing act used to lead predators away from a nest, but they are also talented swimmers. Mature Killdeer can effectively swim through quick-moving water, and their chicks can move across streams with ease.

Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.

If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Assistant Jessica Barry for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.