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Short-tailed Hawk
Photo credit: Diane Doran
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Photographed at impoundment 1 along Wildlife Drive by refuge visitor Steve Gresham
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COVID-19 Refuge Update
The health and well-being of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is priority #1 during these days of challenges presented by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
We bid you all to stay safe and take necessary precautions.
In that spirit, we have closed the DDWS office and nature store. Both the DDWS and Refuge have canceled events and programs that involve gatherings and have asked volunteers to stay home. Currently, Wildlife Drive remains open regular hours (7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.) free-of-charge.
Please monitor
this page
for changes to current status.
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Volunteer Awards
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Ranger Jeff Combs, the Refuge's volunteer coordinator, presents Patty and Jack Wettstein with 4,500 hours awards.
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This year, the Refuge personally awarded volunteers after staff announced the cancellation
of the annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon because of the COVID-19 impact. "While I'm disappointed that I will not be able to publicly recognize the extraordinary efforts of so many volunteers and their commitment to the Refuge and our natural resources, I also want to be proactive and heed the advice of professional public health experts," wrote Acting Refuge Manager Kevin Godsea in a letter emailed to all volunteers. "We will simply need to find other ways to honor our dedicated volunteers this year."
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Peter Meekin with his 500 hours award |
Refuge staff reports that in fiscal year 2019, 311 volunteers worked 37,397 hours at READ MORE
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Cheerful Mugging
Note: The Refuge Nature Store is closed until further notice due to COVID-19.
In conjunction with the ongoing art exhibition in the Visitor & Education Center through April 24, we are debuting a whimsical, artful mug designed by the Refuge's first-ever Artist "in Residence" Ed Anderson.
Featuring some of the Refuge's most well-known animals and locations, this mug will put a smile on your mug every time you use it. The bright green interior is a cheerful reminder of Sanibel's lush, green environment. It holds up to 14 ounces of coffee, tea, soup, or your favorite beverage and is dishwasher and microwave safe. You can purchase it at the Nature Store (once it reopens) or
online right now.
Contact Nature Store Manager
Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for information about mail-ordering store products. Visit our
online store for convenient ordering of more of our most popular items. We will be adding additional items in coming weeks, so check back often.
Remember, members of "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society receive a 10% discount at the Nature Store. Profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs and wildlife research.
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Theodore Cross High School Photo Contest
At a special ceremony at the Refuge on March 14, Ding" Darling Wildlife Society announced winners and finalists in the seventh annual
"Ding" Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest
. This year's judges -- wildlife photographer Steve Allen, acting refuge manager Kevin Godsea, and Sanibel resident Jeff Beale --
had a tough time choosing between all of the extraordinary entries.
Sponsored by the Theodore Cross Family Charitable Foundation, the competition invited high school students from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry counties to compete for prizes that included a Canon digital SLR camera package, chartered class trips to the refuge, Tarpon Bay Explorers excursions, and copies of
Waterbirds: Portraits and Anecdotes from
READ MORE
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| Virginia Bayne's "Lip Smacking Good" took first place. |
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"The Shining Snail Shell" by Mouna Benmerabet won second.
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In third place was Christina Walch's "Changing Perspectives."
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Project Refuge on Parade 
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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash
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The Twist Tie Optional Luncheon & Runway Show took place March 10 at The Sanctuary Clubhouse.
Thanks also to Emcee Rachel Pierce, the Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild, designers, sponsors, attendees, DDWS staff and volunteers, the Project Refuge Committee of Toni Ory, Dot Voorhees and Ann-Marie Wildman, and judges Loki Anthony, Merni Libonate, and Robin Tauck. With a ton of creativity and work, we were able to put forth a fashion statement that made a difference.
To read more about each of the unique and amazing entries, take a look at the event program or CLICK
  Help us decide who will win the People's Choice Awards! Vote for your favorite three designs HERE
Project Refuge Sponsors:
Champion Sponsors
Guardian Sponsors
Protector Sponsors
Defender Sponsors
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Save the Date: Earth Day at the Refuge
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Watch a free showing of
Plastic Paradise
at 1 p.m.
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This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Refuge is throwing a free celebration on April 22 that will include no-fee admission to Wildlife Drive for cyclists and hikers, anniversary cookies, animal origami, the Lee County Green Bus, a bike tour, a scavenger hunt, and a free film showing.
The Refuge will celebrate Earth Day in partnership with the Ding" Darling Wildlife Society-Friends
READ MORE
Note: Monitor our
COVID-19
web page in case this event gets canceled.
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Doc Ford's Joe and Marty Harrity with DDWS' Dot Voorhees.
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 The ninth annual
"Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on Friday, May 22, once again brings catch, care, and release fishing action to local waters.
Doc Ford's -- with locations on Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Fort Myers Beach - title-sponsors the tournament, along with the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society. Proceeds benefit wildlife, water quality research, and conservation education at the Refuge.
"Doc Ford's has been a faithful supporter of our efforts at 'Ding' Darling, helping greatly to bolster Refuge programs and research to balance federal budget shortfalls," said Birgie. "Last year we raised a record $125,000 for the Refuge as a result of sponsorships, donations, and auction proceeds. In its eight years of existence, the tourney has raised nearly $575,000. We're so grateful to Doc Ford's for this huge effort in our behalf."
Thanks to our sponsors to date:
Title Sponsor
Starting Position Sponsor
Champion Sponsors
Premiere Sponsor
Presenting Sponsors
Gold Level Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Note: Monitor our COVID-19 web page in case this event gets canceled.
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ADVOCACY IN ACTION
An Update on People and Projects that Impact Our Water
by Sarah Ashton & Jim Metzler, DDWS Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs
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A group of islanders met in August 2019 with Lt. Col. Jennifer Reynolds (front row, third from the right) at the Refuge.
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The water surrounding the J.N. "
Ding" Darling National Wildlife
Refuge is absolutely beautiful, so it's easy to forget that the battle over improving our water quality and providing appropriate amounts of water is still being fought and that victory is far from assured. With that in mind, this article will provide an update on some of the people and projects that are central in the fight for READ MORE
In Case You Missed It:
A technique, purported to be a magic bullet, to remove phosphorus out of Lake Apopka is currently being trialed. See here.
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'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.
Location: 8,672 acres, Las Vegas, New Mexico
Totemic Flora & Fauna: Long-billed Dowitcher, Sandhill Crane, Elk
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In each issue of "Ding" of the Wing, we share a quick tip on
how you can turn your lifestyle greener. For more information
Lose the Plastic
Did you know?
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The process of producing bottled water requires around 6 times as much water per bottle as there is in the container.
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14% of all litter comes from beverage containers. When caps and labels are considered, the number is higher.
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From the tiniest plankton to the largest whales, plastics impact nearly 700 species in our ocean.
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Plastic has been found in more than 60% of all seabirds and in 100% of sea turtles species.
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There is more
microplastic
in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.
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| Photo credit: David Jeffrey |
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We hope this eccentric Roseate Spoonbill puts a smile on your face! Don't forget, Wildlife Drive is still open and a wonderful spot to look for some "spoonies."
T
o see more wildlife photos click on our social media links:
If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Officer
Sierra Hoisington
, for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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Spring Migratory Sale at Nature Store - April 15, 2020
Endangered Species Day at the Refuge
- May 15, 2020
75th Anniversary Island "Spoonie" Island Scavenger Hunt Kick-off - June 1, 2020
"Ding" Grand Marshal in Fourth of July Parade - July 4, 2020
75th Anniversary "Ding": The Man, The Art, The Stories Exhibition Opening
- October 20, 2020
75th Anniversary Proclamation at City Hall - November 3, 2020
Holiday Shopping Night - November 30, 2020
Official 75th
Anniversary Celebration
- December 1, 2020
2021 Annual Fundraiser - February 10, 2021
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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,
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by April Arthur & April Boehnen.
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