Country Music Singer and Songwriter, Luke Bryan, Wished Tourney Participants Good Luck | |
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Title Sponsor: Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille.
Silver King Anniversary Sponsors: Bill & Laurie Harkey, The Szymanczyk Family, Raiser's Edge
Premiere Sponsor: Cast About Charters.
Presenting Sponsor: Captiva 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
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DDWS Executive Director, Birgie Miller (L) started this tournament with Doc Ford's 10 years ago. April Boehnen, DDWS Development Officer led the 2022 tourney and was handed the reigns to run the tournament for the next ten years! | |  |
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Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts. | | |
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Summer on the Wing
Following this edition of “Ding” on the Wing, we revert to a summer schedule for e-mail bulletins, namely a biweekly calendar. Watch for your next bulletin to fly into your inbox on Thursday, June 2.
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Project Refuge Designs Exhibition
“Ding” Darling’s Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash debuted in 2019 to celebrate the Refuge’s 75th anniversary and raise awareness for recycling. It spawned an encore 2022 fashion show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, which hosted both events. Now, two separate exhibitions will open to the general public to showcase some amazing designs from the two runway shows.
The new Tribby Arts Center at Shell Point Retirement Community exhibits its “Castoffs to Couture: Selections from Project Refuge of the ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society” to the public through June 25. The arts center, previously closed to the public during COVID-19 precautions, presents 18 stunning fashions, each one fabricated with a minimum of 75 percent reclaimed or recycled, nonperishable materials, such as used bags, soda-pop tabs, packing foam, paint chips, old towels, and face masks. Following its exhibition at Shell Point, the “Upcycled Wonders” exhibition comes home for display at the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center July 5 through August 30 daily READ MORE
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Mindfulness Walks for Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month -- time to take care of your holistic wellbeing. ‘Ding' Darling is not only a sanctuary for wildlife, but for humans, too. We have programs available so everyone can reap the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of being out in nature on a Bailey Tract Mindfulness Trail. Visit DingDarling.Eventbrite.com to pre-register for these guided activities or enjoy the self-guided Mindfulness Trail on your own.
Guided Mindfulness Walks at the Bailey Tract from 8:30 to 9:30 am:
- Thursday, May 19
- Saturday, May 21
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We Want Your DDWS Memories
As we progress closer to the 40th anniversary of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society’s (DDWS) chartering on October 6, we are making plans for a special retrospect in our fall Society Pages quarterly newsletter. As a staffer, board member, volunteer, donor, or friend of DDWS, do you have one specific memory that stands out and you can share? Please contact Chelle Koster Walton to submit. Photos are especially welcome.
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Jim Bennight Nature Photography Exhibition
Art exhibitions have returned to the auditorium galleries in the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center. Now through June 30, the Photography of Jim Bennight is on display, including numerous pieces of his exquisite nature photography.
Jim got started in photography during his university days as a stringer for United Press International syndicated news agency. After several years as a fulltime newspaper photographer, he opened a studio for portraits and weddings.
Along the way, Jim earned numerous state and regional awards for both his newspaper and studio work. He later discovered a passion for nature photography and, as a “Ding” Darling volunteer, spends much of his time capturing birds and other wildlife. This time of year, you will usually find him at the Wildlife Education Boardwalk shooting stunning images of nesting birds and their subsequent chicks.
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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.
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Location: Smyrna, Delaware
Totemic fauna: Black-necked Stilt, White-tailed Deer, Snapping Turtle
Visitor tips: Two short trails lead to observation towers. A new visitor center is underway. You can monitor its progress here.
Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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GOING GREEN
Fish Responsibly
As we wrap up another successful “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, this one celebrating the 10th anniversary of the popular event, we share a few reminders for ethical and mindful fishing.
- Dispose of monofilament, hooks, and lures properly; remove gear from trees and waterside plants.
- Handle fish with wet hands to avoid removing their protective coating; release as quickly as possible.
- Do not boat or drag over the gunwale large fish, such as tarpon, as this could injure the internal organs of the fish.
- Before releasing, gently revive a fish in the water, head pointed toward the current, by moving it slowly in a forward motion until it is able to swim away.
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The baby birds of the Refuge are growing up fast! Green Heron chicks begin climbing on the branches around their nest 16-17 days after hatching. At 21-23 days after hatching, these little Green Herons will begin to fly.
Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.
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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. | |
World Migratory Bird Day
On Saturday, May 14, “Ding” Darling, along with the city of Sanibel, honored World Migratory Bird Day at the Visitor & Education Center. The event raised awareness for the plight of migrating birds caused by lighting in the night skies, spreading the word about dimming night lights to save wildlife.
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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,
Birgit Miller, Executive Director
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by Christina Hester & Hayley Caylor.
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