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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
December 28, 2017
In This Issue

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.
" 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 
clean
." - John Muir
Christmas Day sunset photo by Lillian Stokes.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
Congratulations to the Tarpon Bay Explorers team!
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!"
2018 Lecture Series
The February 2 lecture features James McClintock, author of Lost Antarctica.

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:
Hand-carved sculpture of an Eared Grebe by Gary Eigenberger
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.  
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.
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.
"Ding" Darling Theodore Cross High School Photo Contest
First prize in the contest is a camera package, plus a class field trip, and more.
Theodore Cross

The deadline for the fifth annual "Ding" Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest is January 15, 2018. High school students from a five-county area have the opportunity to win prizes such as a Canon camera package, chartered class field trips to the Refuge, Refuge Nature Store gift certificates, and excursions at Tarpon Bay Explorers, the Refuge's recreation concession. Winners also receive copies of READ MORE
 In each issue of "Ding" on the Wing, we showcase one of more than 560 refuges in the U.S.A.



Tundra Swans courtesy of Alan Stankevitz
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. 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife Service
DDWS staff met with Upper Mississippi River NWR staff & board members during their Minnesota visit this summer.
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.

Click here to see a list of this week's wildlife sightings. 
New sightings: Hooded Merganser, Cooper's Hawk, and American Coot.

Hooded Merganser by Jim Bennight
American Coot by Bob Pelkey
 










A pair of Roseate Spoonbills by Allyson Perling

T o see more wildlife photos like these, click on our social media links:

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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.
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.

 
Biweekly Wednesday Film Series - January 10 - April 4, 2018

Free Winter Programs - January 18-April 8, 2018

Friday Lecture Series - January 19-April 13, 2018


Volunteer Awards Luncheon - February 9, 2018

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,
Birgit Miller, Executive Director

"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton.  Designed by Sierra Hoisington and Amanda Brooks
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