February 17, 2022

Go Wild Surpasses $300K

More than $300,000 in earnings at the February 9 Go Wild for “Ding” – The Year of the Anhinga, Soar for 40 More proved that our supporters feel deeply the “Ding” Is Home sentiment. We announced the “Ding” Is Home Fund that night as a new initiative to raise support for forthcoming education, urban outreach, and new programming.

During the auction event, DDWS also revealed an exciting $75,000 challenge match for this new initiative by loyal donors Fred and Alice Stanback. Our passionate supporters quickly reached and exceeded that match goal during the Bid-to-Give portion of the evening. The Stanbacks were so touched by the support from the “Ding” family, they offered a match for those who were unable to attend the event. They have graciously offered another match challenge of $25,000 for everyone to participate in by end-of-day February 18. Already, Go Wild has earned an unprecedented $300,000 to support wildlife and conservation at the Refuge. Your gift – no matter what size -- boosts that support to make a difference.

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 further.

A special thanks to our engaging auctioneer, Brett Baugh with Benevolent Auctions, who stepped up to help us out in pinch.

A BIG thanks also to our generous sponsors.

Watch the “Ding” Is Home video.

Jim and Liz Birmingham were the successful winners for the Jim Sprankle Feather necklace after a spirited bidding amongst the crowd.

Please Write to your Florida Senators Today to ask them to Vote No on SB 2508

Over the next several years, the single most important factor that will influence the quantity and quality of the water that surrounds the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is the implementation of the recently created Lake Okeechobee System Operations Manual (LOSOM).

LOSOM was developed by the Army Corps of Engineers after a very collaborative 3-year process that attempted to balance the needs of a broad range of stakeholders.

Senate Bill (SB) 2508 was recently filed in the Florida state senate. This bill attempts to overturn the work of the Army Corps by prioritizing the goals of one stakeholder over the goals of the rest of the stakeholders. In particular, SB 2508 requires the South Florida Water Management System to recommend to the Army Corps that dry-season water levels in Lake Okeechobee be held higher than the current plan calls for, even when that water could benefit another part of the system. Further, as has happened so often in the past, the failure to adequately lower the lake during the dry season often means high volume discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries will occur during the rainy season. These discharges are devastating to the ecology of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Please click the following link to “Take Action Today” and ask Florida’s senators to vote NO on SB2508.

Project Refuge

In 2019, DDWS introduced Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash as part of its celebration of the Refuge 75th anniversary. This year, on March 31, it brings back the luncheon and runway competition for DDWS' 40th anniversary.

“It was such a huge success in raising Refuge support, as well as awareness about recycling and the threat of trash to our wildlife,” said Birgie Miller, DDWS Executive Director. “The fashion ensembles created from repurposed materials were out of this world!”

A limited number of tickets for the luncheon, to be held at The Community House at 2173 Periwinkle Way, have gone on sale. The tickets are $150 each and available only by advance purchase online. The event takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes emcee commentary by artist Rachel Pierce and a contest judging, along with lunch.

“We have 20 design teams registered to participate in the show,” said DDWS Development Officer April Boehnen, event organizer. “Expect creations fashioned out of everything from recycled plastic to disposable face masks, plastic caps and vinyl event banners on the ‘trashion’ runway.”

“All profits will directly benefit the Refuge’s education and water-quality research programs,” said Birgie. “It’s a fun and entertaining way to make a difference while enjoying lunch with friends and like-minded conservationists.”

The three placing winners in 2019

Thank you to our Project Refuge Sponsors. Please consider joining them!

Click HERE to learn more about becoming a sponsor

Call of the Wild Sponsors: Work-a-Holics Landscape Management Inc.;

Bill & Laurie Harkey

Champion Sponsors: The Bluedorn Family; Doug and Sherry Gentry

Guardian Sponsors: Anonymous; Jim & Liz Birmingham; Wayne & Linda Boyd; Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille; Greg & Linda Scherer; Boomer Duvin & Family; John & Kathy McCabe; John & Beth Newland; Bill & Diane Valerian; Lee County Solid Waste

Protector Sponsors: Green is Good; Mitchell's Sand Castles

Defender Sponsors: Ashton Kirchner Group; HighTower Advisors; R.S. Walsh Landscaping

Thursday, February 24: Amy Matsumoto Urich Lecture

Following last year’s publication of the first book ever to chronicle the life and work of legendary Southwest Florida artist Ikki Matsumoto, Amy Matsumoto Urich addresses “The Captivating Art and Times of My Father, Ikki Matsumoto” at a free, in-person lecture. It will take place on Thursday, February 24, at The Community House at 2173 Periwinkle Way starting at 10 a.m., part of the DDWS Lecture Series and sponsored by Bill and Laurie Harkey.

Ikki, his wife Polly, and daughter Amy – all artists – moved to Sanibel Island in the mid-1970s and quickly got involved in the community. “I grew up in the midst of art and creativity,” said Urich, whose Japanese-born father worked in commercial art, newspaper advertising design, and textbook illustration before moving to Sanibel. Her most recent efforts resulted in the publication of Captivated: The Art of Ikki Matsumoto by by Steve Saari. Following her lecture, Urich will be signing READ MORE

Miss last week’s Holly Merker lecture? You can now view it online, thanks to sponsors Joseph & Michelle Blanda and an anonymous donor.

2022 Lecture Series flyer

Young Amy with her famed artist father, Ikki Matsumoto

Monday, February 21: President’s Day

Admission to Wildlife Drive will be fee-free on Monday, February 21, in honor of President’s Day. As a federal holiday, however, it means the closing of all administrative offices and the Visitor & Education Center, including the flagship Refuge Nature Store. America’s Best Restroom will remain open during Wildlife Drive hours, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tarpon Bay Explorers is also open for business that day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Volunteer Debbie Michels leads a Biking the Refuge Tour most Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.

Free Season Refuge Programs

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 17: Birding the Refuge Tour, 8:30 a.m.
Today, February 17: Bailey Tract Walk, 9 a.m.
Today, February 17: Gators & Crocs Talk, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, February 18: Indigo Trail Tour, 9:30 a.m.
Friday, February 18: Birds of the Refuge Walk, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 19: Beach Exploration, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, February 22, Advanced Birding the Refuge Tour, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, February 22, Biking the Refuge Tour, 9:30 a.m.

WoW News

Teachers and students alike continue to rave about the results they see from WoW visits to area schools. In the past three weeks, WoW staff reached 50 classes of 1,200 students at Tortuga Preserve Elementary in Lehigh Acres.

Read a recent letter from students and educators at Harns Marsh Elementary, also in Lehigh Acres. Like all the schools WoW targets, the two Lehigh schools are classified Title 1.

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.

Tortuga Preserve Elementary

April 24: ‘Ding’ Darling Day Conservation Carnival

Postponed from October 2021 because of a COVID surge, the 33rd annual “Ding” Darling Day celebration migrates to Lakes Park in Fort Myers on Sunday, April 24. This year, the Refuge will jointly observe Earth Day, which falls on April 22, with “Ding” Day, along with DDWS' 40th anniversary.

The decision to move the popular event off-island this year reflects “Ding” Darling’s participation in the Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, a national refuge system-wide initiative to encourage community connection.

The WoW (Wildlife on Wheels) project was the first big step that Refuge educators took toward spreading the word about conservation beyond Refuge borders in December 2020. The mobile nature experience will be at the center of the free “Ding” Darling Day.

Besides tours of the mobile nature experience, the Refuge and DDWS have planned a full day of Conservation Carnival activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special outdoor activities include carnival games, prizes, Earth Day crafts, a dunk tank, artist-in-residence programs, guided bilingual birding walks, a biking tour, snow cones, and educational interactions with other local conservation organizations.

“We look forward to reinventing ‘Ding’ Darling Day to make that connection actually out IN the community,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland, who chairs the event’s committee. “We’re still ironing out details, but expect fun and enrichment for the entire family.” Watch DingDarlingDay.com for details as they unfold.

DDWS seeks sponsors for the event, which will be highly publicized throughout the Southwest Florida area. Contact April Boehnen at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 for more information.

“Ding” Darling Day 2022 Flyer

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

Thank you to our "Ding" Darling Day Sponsors. Please consider joining them!

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

Great Blue Heron Sponsors: Island Sun News; John R. Wood Properties

Reddish Egret Sponsors: Mike & Terry Baldwin; Bank of the Islands; Media Source; 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 Realty; Parker Waichman LLP; Sanibel Moorings; Southern SnoBalls, Tarpon Bay Explorers

March 31: Scholarships Application Deadline

Application deadline for about a dozen scholarships amounting to more than $20,000 from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society is March 31. Ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each, the scholarships are available to high school seniors, college students, and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties pursuing degrees in environmental-related studies. Now in its 16th year, the DDWS scholarship program presented its first awards in 2006. To date, the program has awarded nearly $200,000. Interested students READ MORE

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.

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Location: 10,819 acres; 90 miles north of Sacramento, California

Totemic fauna: Snow Goose, Northern Shoveler

Visitor tips: The visitor center is open daily November through February and on weekdays for the remainder of the year. There is also a 6-mile auto tour and two walking trails.

Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

GOING GREEN

Fighting Plastic Marine Pollution

Do your part to stem the crisis:

Sign up for community beach clean-ups, or spend a half-hour of your beach day picking up trash.
Avoid products with excess packaging. Buy fresh and local. Buy from bulk bins, and avoid packages with individually wrapped items.
Invest in a reusable water bottle instead of using single-use plastic bottles.
Put garbage and recyclables in their proper place.
Carry and use non-disposal bags.
Cut up plastic six-pack rings or buy products with consumable rings.

Photo by Sylvia Guarino

Wildlife Sightings & Tides

Blue-winged Teals have started coupling up at the WEB! Blue-winged Teal eat aquatic insects such as midge larvae, crustaceans, clams, and snails as well as vegetation and grains. Laying females eat mostly protein-rich animal matter. In winter, seeds such as rice, millet, water lilies are the predominant foods.

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.