February 10, 2022

Go Wild Reveal: ‘Ding’ Is Home

So many find their first love and second home at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. We hear it over and over again, and it inspired us to create our new initiative and a video titled “Ding” Is Home, which we revealed at Go Wild for “Ding” – The Year of the Anhinga, Soar for 40 More on February 9.

The nearly 200 gathered supporters learned that evening about our new mission to widen our embrace and stoke the home fires for a greater community through contributions from our generous donors. It began with our ongoing education programs and strengthened last year with the launching of WoW Wildlife on Wheels mobile classroom, a potent symbol of our commitment to introducing the Refuge and making it more approachable regionwide.

At last night's event, we announced an exciting $75,000 challenge match for this new initiative by loyal donors Fred and Alice Stanback. Our amazing supporters quickly reached exceeded that match goal during the Bid-to-Give portion of the evening. The Stanbacks were so touched by the support of the “Ding” family they wanted to offer another match for those who were unable to attend last night’s event. They have graciously offered another match challenge of $25,000 for everyone to participate in by February 18.

Our goal is to bring more and diverse individuals into the “Ding” fold through community outreach, inclusive engagement on and off-island, and new programming that will include top speakers, musicians, and other artists in the field of conservation. Give today to the "Ding" is Home Fund and your donation will be doubled, matched dollar for dollar. In the gift comment section, please include the phrase “’Ding’ is Home’” to make sure your donation stretches even further.

Learn more at DingIsHome.com. Thank you for making “Ding” home to all. Stay tuned for more coverage of Go Wild in next week's "Ding" on the Wing.

URGENT! Sign Petition to

Save Our Water

In the interest of supporting the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce and other local water-quality-watch organizations as quickly as possibly in their call to action, we share this message:

The Florida Legislature is trying to rush in a new bill that would have monumental water-quality implications. WE NEED YOU to stop a detrimental move to our business community by the state legislature. Late last Friday afternoon, the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee filed a proposed bill (SB 2508) that will have significant negative impacts on two critical components to solving south Florida’s water crisis: the EAA Reservoir and the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM).

Together, those two components will significantly reduce the harmful coastal discharges and send more beneficial water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay. We can't let legislation like this threaten their progress.

Ultimately, this bill, if signed as written, would set progress back years and lead to incalculable economic and environmental losses that harm all Floridians.

The House is set to vote on this bill VERY QUICKLY, and we need you to let them know IMMEDIATELY that the bill MUST be stopped or significantly modified for the sake of our waters. Learn more about the situation and sign the petition.

Listen to a live update of yesterday’s disappointing public hearing in Tallahassee.

Mindfulness Trail Unveiling

On Monday, February 7, as the kickoff to its Wellness Week: Mind. Body. Heart., the Refuge unveiled its new, self-guided Mindfulness Trail with a Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and live, pop-up interpretation by the Wellness Week team.

The Mindfulness Trail, a meditative nature experience, features five stations with QR codes that connect hikers to podcasts with guided meditations on nature and wellbeing. The 0.35-mile trail runs around the perimeter of Ani Marsh, a popular wildlife-spotting area at Bailey Tract. It is the first nature mindfulness experience to debut among the 560-plus U.S. national wildlife refuges. The podcasts start with an introduction to the Health Benefits of Nature by READ MORE

THIS EVENING: Wellness Week Virtual Q&A

Watch Dr. Joe Blanda’s Nature Can Heal Lecture and join in on his virtual Q&A starting at 7 p.m. on February 10. A recently retired orthopedic surgeon who promoted mindfulness and nature exposure to his recovering patients, Dr. Joe continues to help people with wellbeing and connectivity outdoors.

TOMORROW February 11: Free Ornitherapy Lecture

Learn why getting your daily dose of ornitherapy is just what the doctor ordered at a free lecture by author, art therapist, and environmental educator Holly Merker on Friday, February 11. “Ornitherapy: How a Deeper Experience with Nature Can Enrich Your Mind, Body, and Soul” will take place at The Community House at 2173 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island starting at 10 a.m.

As part of DDWS’ 40th Anniversary Wellness Week: Mind. Body. Heart., and DDWS’ 2022 Lecture Series, Merker’s presentation explores a mindful approach to the observation of birds and how READ MORE

Holly Merker authored this book with Richard and Sophia Crossley

Lecture Sponsors:

Did you miss last week’s Richard Crossley lecture? You can now view it online, thanks to sponsors HighTower Fort Myers and an anonymous donor.

Lecture Series flyer

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

Film Series Underway

The 10th annual “Ding” Darling Film Series has opened registration for this season’s five-part series. Zoom discussions for the films are scheduled at 5 p.m. February 16 through April 13. The films explore natural topics -- from global warming to the impact of human behavior on the environment as seen through the lens of a sea turtle.

The series kicks off on February 16 with the award-winning documentary 2040, which presents a story of hope that looks at the very real possibility that humanity could reverse global warming and improve READ MORE

Calendar of upcoming film discussions:

February 16 - 2040

March 2 - Biggest Little Farm (sponsor John MacLennan)

March 16 - Salmon Forest

April 6 - Last Green Thread & Chasing Ghosts

April 13 - Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale [Anonymous Donor]

To learn about sponsorship opportunities for the film series, contact Sierra Hoisington or 239-472-1100 ext. 233.

Photograph: Poster from the documentary 2040

Free Season Refuge Program

Following the new protocol for free Winter Refuge Programs, staff and volunteers are offering a revolving schedule of programs through April 16. The schedule changes weekly according to staffing availability. All programs take place outdoors with a limit of 10 participants. Please wear a mask when unable to maintain a safe distance of six feet from one another.

On the Refuge Eventbrite Page, you will find details of the week’s tours so you can pre-register. (Please remember to cancel your reservation if you are unable to make it.) Upcoming programs:

Today, February 10: Birding the Refuge Tour, 8:30 a.m.
Today, February 10: Bailey Tract Walk, 9 a.m.
Today, February 10: Gators & Crocs Talk, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, February 11: Indigo Trail Tour, 9:30 a.m.
Friday, February 11: Birds of the Refuge Walk, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 12: Beach Exploration, 10 a.m.
Saturday, February 12: Birds of the Refuge Talk, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 13, Biking the Refuge Tour, 9:30 a.m.

Photograph: Volunteer Carl Greenbaum conducts Gators & Crocs talks most Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

What is the Status of Everglades Restoration?

By Jim Metzler, DDWS Advocacy Committee Co-chair

As explained in a previous article, the process of restoring the Everglades is of significant importance to the Refuge. Everglades restoration is also important to the Everglades Coalition (EVCO), an organization that just held its 37th annual conference devoted to that topic. Given the importance of Everglades restoration to the Refuge, along with the lengthy amount of time organizations such as EVCO have been working on the issue, this article will remind us READ MORE

WoW News

Teachers and students alike continue to rave about the results they see from WoW visits to area schools. Read a letter from a fifth-grade educator from Villas Elementary.

Haven’t had the chance to tour the WoW mobile outreach classroom? It will be open to the public for free touring the following dates and times:

February 23, 12 - 3 p.m.

February 24, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

March 23, 12 - 3 p.m.

March 24, 12 - 3 p.m.

March 25, 9 a.m. -12 p.m.

Refuge Spotlight - America's Best Kept Secret

In each issue of “Ding” on the Wing, we showcase one of the nearly 570 refuges across the U.S.A.

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Location: 2,774 acres as part of the Inland Northwest NWR Complex, northern Idaho

Totemic fauna: Cinnamon Teal, Elk, Moose

Visitor tips: Vehicle access is closed during winter months, but snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular activities.

Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

GOING GREEN

Eco-Friendly Pets

Cats and dogs, too, can have an impact on the environment. Here are some green tips for pet care:

Pets account for about 30% of the environmental impact on meat production in the U.S. Many overeat and more than half of American pets are overweight. Check with your vet to see if you should scale back.
Check food labels. Look for organ meat and animal byproducts that use parts of animals that otherwise would be wasted.
Repurpose bags from newspapers or groceries for bagging dog droppings. If you need to buy bags, look for those made from recycled plastic.
For cats, choose litter made from recycled or natural materials such as wood, wheat, or corn.
Free-ranging pet cats kill more than an estimated 400 million birds in this country each year. Keep cats indoors when possible, or consider an outdoor leash.

Source: Eating Well magazine.

Photo by Jim Bennight

Wildlife Sightings & Tides

Lately, Anhingas have been very active at the Wildlife Education Boardwalk on Indigo Trail. When observing Anhingas, there is an easy way to differentiate between male and female adults. Adult males have black necks that match the color of their bodies whereas adult female Anhingas have lighter brown necks.

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.