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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
December 28, 2017
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Read about our
45/82 Society and please
email us or call 239-472-1100 ext. 4 about becoming a member of this special group of people.
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"
Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit
Christmas Day sunset photo by Lillian Stokes.
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Happy New Year!
Resolve to get into nature for 2018. Experts agree it's a sure way to improve your mental and physical health. Start with a New Year's Day ride through Wildlife Drive. The Drive will be open New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, but the Refuge Visitor & Education Center and all offices will be closed on both days.
Tarpon Bay Explorers and the Bailey Tract are open for regular hours.
We wish everyone in our "Ding" family a happy and nature-filled new year!
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Free Refuge Programs Begin
January 2nd
The seasonal calendar of free Refuge programs and tours begins on
Tuesday, January 2, 2018, and runs through April 8. Daily programs begin at 8:30 a.m. and include such diverse activities as Nature Photography, Beach Walks, Birds of Prey,
READ MORE.
(Photo) Saturday is story time at the Refuge. Starting at 9:30 a.m., the half-hour Story & Wildlife Wonders program takes place in the Visitor & Education Center.
Click
HERE for a printable calendar of programs.
Click
HERE for program descriptions.
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New Exhibit Opening at "Ding": Natives in Paradise
Pauline Goldsmith and
Cynthia Rice are both longstanding South Florida botanical artists who have a passion for native plants and conservation. Pauline and Cynthia will appear at the Refuge from
3-4 p.m. on January 2
to mark the first day of their exhibition
Natives in Paradise,
which will be on display at the Refuge Visitor & Education Center Auditorium until February 27. Click
HERE
to learn more.
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Vo
te for "Ding"!
Click
here
to vote for "Ding" Darling Refuge as the top Florida Attraction in USA Today's 10Best.com readers' poll. Visit every day in the next 18 days to push us to the top!
Share on
social media and get your friend
s voting, too.
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Tarpon Bay Explorers Celebrates 15 Years!
Tarpon Bay Explorers recently
celebrated 15 years of business and partnership as the Refuge's recreation concession. Tarpon Bay Explorers was established in 2002 with a small fleet of kayaks, canoes, bicycles, and pontoons. The company operated out of a single story building that was previously part of a marina. The company now
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Congratulations to the Tarpon Bay Explorers team!
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operates out of a newer building constructed in 2008 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It offers a variety of low-impact educational and recreational activities. "We've come a long way," said part-owner and General Manager Wendy Schnapp. "It's hard to believe that 15 years have gone by, but we've loved every minute of it. Tarpon Bay is truly a special place with a lot of history and amazing wildlife. Our partnership with the Refuge is amazing, and we hope to continue as the concessionaire for years to come!"
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2018 Lecture Series
The 2018 "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture Series runs January 19 through April 13. Most lectures take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The opening lecture on January 19 features Noah Strycker, author of
Birding without Borders, with an extra lecture at 2:30 p.m
.
HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management sponsors the free 12-lecture series with support from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society
READ MORE.
For a printable lecture series flyer, click
HERE.
If you are interested in getting a head start on reading Strycker's Birding Without Borders, t
he Nature Store already has the book in stock. It sells for $27. If you are interested in purchasing it, stop in or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 to order over the phone for delivery. Don't forget to mention if you are a DDWS member for your 10% discount.
Thanks to our 2018 Lecture Series sponsor:
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Go Wild for "Ding" Fundraiser Auction Item
This delicate carving by world master wood carver
Gary Eigenberger
of an Eared Grebe floating among lily pads goes on the auction block for
Go Wild for "Ding" on February 14, 2018
. The 6-inch-tall carving intricately carved and
beautifully
painted. You can see some of Gary's work now on exhibit at
Watson MacRae Gallery
on Sanibel Island. Stop by the DDWS office for an in-person look at the Eared Grebe sculpture.
We hope you plan to join us on February 14 to celebrate your love for "Ding." Reservations are $125 per person.
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Re
gistration Is
Open
: Go Wild for "Ding" -
In the Nest
Get ready to celebrate Go Wild for "Ding," our annual major fundraiser on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. This year's theme celebrates Valentine's Day with the theme In the Nest.
CLICK HERE to register for one or more of only 225 available reservations. This event fills up quickly, so don't wait to register. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Sanibel Community House and features an island restaurant dinner, live and silent auctions, and live entertainment. For more information about the event, click HERE.
THANK YOU to our 2018 Sponsors:
CHAMPION SPONSORS
GUARDIAN SPONSOR
PROTECTOR SPONSORS
DEFENDER SPONSORS
To become a sponsor, please call Carrie Alexander at
239.472.1100 ext. 256 or
email.
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At the Refuge Nature Store
Nature Journals
Perfect for starting your new year with a "get outdoors" resolution: This attractive, sturdy My Nature Journal features a die-cut cover showcasing Refuge wildlife art by Lynne Egensteiner. Cost is $29.95. Stop in and pick up journals for yourself and friends today. Or contact Store Manager
Jeanne Walsh at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for more information about mail-ordering these and other featured products.
Proceeds from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for overall conservation efforts. DDWS members receive 10% off in the Refuge Nature Store.
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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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Tundra Swans courtesy of Alan Stankevitz
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Location
:
Onalaska, Wisconsin (Upper Mississippi River NWR has districts in four states and totals 240,000 acres.)
Totemic Fauna
: Tundra Swan, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Fun for the Family
:
The visitor's center exhibit "The River Walk" allows you to "walk on water" and see what lies below.
Visitor's Tip
:
Check with the visitor's center for special programs offered throughout the year.
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Kicking Plastic
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. For more information on being
environmentally aware, visit our
Go Green web page.
Plastic Cups. Since New Year's Eve seems synonymous with social gatherings and drinks of all kinds, we thought it a good time to hand out some pointers on reducing your use of plastic cups. It's as simple as taking your own drinking vessel to parties - our "Ding" Darling Tervis tumblers are
perfect for keeping cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. If you are entertaining, trade in the red Solo cups for real glassware, or encourage your guests to BYOC (Bring Your Own Cup). Same goes for plates and flatware. It makes a classy and earth-aware statement. What better way to start the new year?
"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.
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Click
here to see a list of this week's wildlife sightings.
New sightings: Hooded Merganser, Cooper's Hawk, and American Coot.
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A pair of Roseate Spoonbills by Allyson Perling
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T
o see more wildlife photos like these, 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.
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Still time to make a Year-End Gift
The implications of the newly signed tax bill favors giving in 2017 over 2018, experts say. While the answer is not one-size-fits-all, for most Americans a 2017 deductible will be advantageous. Contact your tax advisor regarding deductions in 2017 versus 2018 to determine what is best for your particular situation.
You have
four days left to make your year-end donations for 2017 tax deduction purposes. Click
HERE to learn more about making a year-end gift to support the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Click
here to make a gift today.
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Volunteer Awards Luncheon
- February 9, 2018
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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 Sierra Hoisington and Amanda Brooks
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