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#DailyDoseofDing
The DDWS staff has been busy bringing the healing sunshine and beauty of the Refuge to the public through 30-second social media videos. Follow on Facebook to see our #DailyDoseofDing, brief virtual visits to the Refuge for those who can't make it.
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Whether you live on Sanibel Island or in a completely different environment in faraway places like South Carolina or Wyoming, we want to see what you're seeing in your habitat while you are staying safe at home.
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| | Thank you to David Cohen for sharing a backyard nature photo of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird from a recent trip to Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Maryland. |
Please email y our nature photos so we can share them in "Ding" on the Wing and by social media. Include details about the photographer and where the photo was taken.
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National Public Lands &
Urban Wildlife Day
For Saturday, September 26, the Refuge has designed three ways to celebrate National Public Lands & Urban Wildlife Day.
1. Visit Wildlife Drive free of charge all day (7 a.m.-7 p.m.). Print out this scavenger hunt before you go, and be on the lookout for wildlife.
2. If you live in Lee, Collier, or Charlotte County, receive a 25% discount off tours and rentals at Tarpon Bay Explorers, our recreation concession. (Bring proof of residency.)
3. Support the Refuge by shopping online at ShopDingDarling.com. Curbside pickup is available Monday through Friday.
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Refuge Update
Due to lack of demand, the Wildlife Drive tram tours have discontinued service until further notice.
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| | Grab an electronic map from the Visitor & Education kiosk and head out to adventure on Wildlife Drive and the trails. |
The "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center remains closed until further notice, however restrooms at the Center and on Wildlife Drive are open. The Drive and all trails are open (except Friday, when Wildlife Drive normally closes). Tram and recreational tours at Tarpon Bay Explorers have resumed. Visit the website or call 239-472-1351 or 239-472-8900 for the latest information and to make reservations. Keep current on other re-openings and postponements on our website.
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Seeking Volunteers with
Class A CDL License
Do you or someone you know have a Class A CDL license that you would like to put to use to help "Ding" Darling with new educational opportunities with our Wildlife on Wheels (WoW)? This volunteer position would consist of 4 hrs of work a week or more if the individual is interested. Help us bring the Refuge to our surrounding communities & have fun while doing it!
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Lecture Series Sponsors
Because the pandemic has forced DDWS to move this year's free lecture series to The Community House on Sanibel, our costs to host the lectures have increased significantly.
We are seeking one $5,000 sponsor or partial sponsors in increments of $1,000 to cover rental and lecturer fees for each
presentation. Below is the lecture schedule and current sponsorship needs. Please contact April Boehnen (239-472-1100 ext. 4) or Birgie Miller 239-292-0566 for more information.
Friday, January 29 - Ocean Doctor David E. Guggenheim, "Water Conservation,"
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| | Thanks to HighTower_Thomas _ Swartz Wealth Management for sponsoring one entire lecture and part of another this season. Pictured here_ Jack E. Thomas_ Trevor R. Swartz_ and Vicki Bruen. |
sponsored by HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management
Thursday, February 4 - Photographers Clyde and
Niki Butcher, The Everglades, sponsored by Wayne and Linda Boyd
Friday, March 12 - Author Paul Bannick, Great Gray Owl: A Visual Natural History, sponsor(s) needed
Friday. March 19 - Author Kirk W. Johnson, Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century, partially sponsored by HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management, additional partial sponsor(s) needed.
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Flip to 2021
Ready to look at a new year? The 2021 Sanibel-Captiva Nature Calendar is now available online, and it's a cheering way to send someone (yourself!) inspiring images of wildlife and a year to look forward to.
Personal Shopper
Don't see what you're looking for online? Allow our staff to assist you in finding exactly what you want with a personalized shopping experience. By phone, we will guide you through our entire store inventory at a time that is convenient for you. Email us or leave us a voicemail message at 239-472-1100 ext. 241, and we will be in touch with you promptly.
Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts.
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Photo Contest Deadline September 15 
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Martha Huard from Bokeelia, Florida, took second place last year with a photo of a Yellow-crowned Night Heron titled "Flight."
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no later than September 15.
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 Support Those Who Support Us
The local and island business community needs us now, more than ever. Each week, we are highlighting local businesses that have provided support for conservation efforts at the Refuge through the years. They have invested in the community and the Refuge, and we hope the community will do what they can to help them.
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Congress Jewelers: For the most exquisite, wearable sense of place, shop Congress Jewelers at Periwinkle Place Shops or online for its Sealife by Congress™ Collection. Besides the Sanibel-inspired jewelry, including its signature Birth Shell pieces, Congress carries a complete inventory of watches and designer jewelry. Call 239-472-4177.
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Law Office of Janet M. Strickland PA: Janet Strickland has been in business on Sanibel Island for 10 years and practicing law for 30. From her office in The Village Shops, she specializes in estate planning, elder law, probate, real estate, and corporate and business law. Call 239-472-3322.
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Gulf Star Marina: Conveniently located at Fisherman's Wharf on Fort Myers Beach, Gulf Star Marina boasts the world's first SMART marine storage facility, featuring innovative ASAR technology. This high-tech system enables boats kept in storage at the facility to be on the water in just seven minutes.Call 239-463-9552.
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DDWS has rolled out its OMG (Once-a-Month Giver) program as part of ongoing efforts to recoup financial losses caused by pandemic closures and cancellations.
"As is the case with a lot of our island charities, our fundraising efforts have been severely curtailed," said DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller. "A real challenge for us in raising support for the Refuge has been the closure of our physical Nature Store while the Refuge's Visitor & Education Center has been shuttered since March. Normally, thousands of visitors a month come to the Center to purchase items to remember their visit and support our efforts outright with READ MORE
Learn more about monthly giving and sign up as an OMG today.
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 Reusable Face Masks
Like many disposable products, single-use face masks are ending up on beaches, in waterways, and in landfills as unsightly and contaminated trash. If your job does not require single-use masks, invest in cotton cloth ones you can launder and reuse. Our online store has a wide selection of face coverings in fashionable designs, including our exclusive Roseate Spoonbill masks embroidered
with the Refuge's name.
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Blast from the Past
December 1, 2020, we take a look back, through historic photographs, at the past three-quarters of a century.
On October 16, 2002, the Refuge hosted an award ceremony as part of the Sanibel Island Restoration Management Partnership Team. P. Lynn Scarlett (white shirt), Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, Department of Interior, presented the Refuge the Coastal America Partnership Award, along with SCCF and the city of Sanibel. Afterward, she posed with Refuge staff for this picture. How many can you identify?
Did you know that back then, the Refuge employed more than 20 personnel? Today, due to budget cuts, eight full-time staff members handle nearly twice as many visitors as in 2002, plus significantly
more acreage.
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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. that is open to the public. This week, the Trump Administration finalized plans to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. The National Wildlife Refuge Association expects they will attempt to begin lease sales prior to the November election. Click HERE to add your voice to protect this precious resource.
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| | Photos courtesy of U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Service |
Location: 19.64 million acres of land and water in northeast Alaska
Totemic Fauna: Moose, Polar Bear, and Snow Goose
Fun for the Family: Plan a day hike at easily accessible Atigum Gorge.
Visitor's Tip: The best and safest way to view polar bears is through local guide companies.
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| | Polar Bears |
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| | | Snow Geese | |
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Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.
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| | | Photo credit: Jim Bennight | |
The Mangrove Cuckoo is the most elusive bird species on the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. You should consider yourself lucky if you get to see one of these individuals, let alone snap a picture of one!
To 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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| | Monitor our
for news of event cancellations. |
75th Anniversary Proclamation at City Hall - November 3, 2020
75th Anniversary Celebration & Gala - December 1, 2020 Sponsors needed!
CALL April at 239.472.1100 ext. 4 to learn about sponsorship opportunities.
Clyde Butcher Book Signing - December TBA
National Bird Day - January 5, 2021
CALL April at 239.472.1100 ext. 4 to learn about sponsorship opportunities.
Volunteer Training - January 14, 2021
2021 Annual Go Wild for "Ding" - February 10, 2021
Earth Day at the Refuge - April 22, 2021
Artist-in-Residence Exhibition - October - Mid-November 2021
Niki Butcher Photographic Exhibition - Mid-November - December 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 Boehnen & Sierra Hoisington.
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