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Memorial & Honor Gifts
These gifts were made to DDWS in honor and memory of friends and families during May 2020. Thank you to everyone who supported the Refuge in this thoughtful and meaningful way. Make a memorial or honor donation
HERE.
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Happy Black Birders  Week
On the heels of a racist incident last week in New York City's Central Park, the inaugural Black Birders Week came together this week to encourage diversity and racial safety in the outdoors. The initiative encourages "emerging birders and scientists to pursue their passions," says Audubon. "The second goal is to educate the birding and broader outdoor-loving community about the challenges Black birders specifically face."
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License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day
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Tarpon Bay Explorer's Hobie fishing kayaks keep your hands free with foot pedals. |
Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, are
license-free saltwater fishing days in Florida. It's the perfect time to try out a new outdoor skill with the family if you haven't yet invested in a fishing license.
Tarpon Bay Explorers rents pontoons, kayaks, and even Hobie fishing kayaks for fishing in the bay. (TBE's tours and charters currently remain shut down, while the gift shop and boat ramp are open along with rentals.)
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Due to the postponement of the 2020 Tarpon Tournament, we have a couple of items available for sale. Click
here to see the 2 kayaks, paddles, life jackets, cart & hitch. Contact
Sierra Hoisington if you are interested.
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Virtual Summer Camp starts June 10
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Take a virtual paddleboard tour of Tarpon Bay during Nature Explorers Virtual Summer Camp. |
Building on the success and popularity of its #DingatHome virtual learning experience, which ran March 23 through May 29, the Refuge Education Team debuts
Nature Explorers Virtual Summer Camp beginning June 10.
Through July 31, Refuge educators will be hosting longer natural science- and experiential-based learning videos every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10 a.m. on the Refuge's official Facebook page. Exploration Wednesday will include activities like paddleboarding in Tarpon Bay and bike safety. Experimentation Thursday lessons range from making a lava lamp to nature tie-dye. Investigation Friday brings interviews with Refuge experts such as READ MORE
#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.
The posts have become a much-anticipated feature, boosting Facebook numbers to more than 14,500 followers.
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Refuge Status
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The main parking lot at Bailey Tract is now open, along with all of its trails. |
The Refuge continues to evaluate the risk of its operations to visitors, staff, and the local community. In keeping with recent state and city directives and national guidelines, staff are developing a phased plan to reopen facilities as they meet staffing, distancing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
Closed during shutdown to deter beach parking, the main parking lot for Bailey Tract on Tarpon Bay Road is now reopened. Trails remained open to cyclists and hikers the entire time. Keep updated on developments at our
COVID-19 web page. And in the meantime, we urge you to #StayHome as much as possible, get out in nature when you can, and maintain social distance and mask guidelines when you must go out.
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Project Refuge Blog
Escama Studio, which creates The Refuge Nature Store's line of fashion ware made from pop-top tabs, was so impressed with our
Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash
, that it created a
BLOG
about it on its website. The event took place on March 10 to raise awareness about the impact of trash on the environment and support for the Refuge. Pictured above, Project Refuge emcee Rachel Pierce (second from right) and the three judges wore accessories made by Escama Studio. Click HERE to read the blog.
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45/82 Society
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| Click HERE for a larger image. |
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Ensuring wildlife has a place to thrive in the future is as easy as naming "Ding" Darling in your will, or designating it as a beneficiary to your retirement plan, IRA, or other financial account. Click
here to learn more about this opportunity.
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 Gifts for Dad
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Designed to shed light on the importance of protecting the delicate Florida Everglades ecosystem by removing the invasive Burmese Python, each python-skin piece is hand-stitched right here in Florida. Give the gift of natural beauty, function, and excellent craftsmanship. |
Father's Day is June 21. Surprise Dad with a one-of-a-kind, American-made, hand-carved duck or artisan-crafted python accessory.
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| Hand-carved and -polished from a 100-plus-year-old cedar fence post, each duck highlights the rich beauty of the aged wood. No two carvings are alike, guaranteeing a genuinely unique gift hand-signed by its artist. |
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This weekend ONLY - today through Sunday, June 7 -get 20% off these unique gifts using the promo code BESTDAD at checkout. Visit
ShopDingDarling.com today to select your favorite duck or python pattern before it's gone.
NEW ROSEATE SPOONBILL MASKS
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"Feather Jim" Sprankle models these amazing new Special Edition Roseate Spoonbill Face Masks.
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A special
friend of the Refuge, Barb Bluedorn, has been hard at work hand making these lovely Roseate Spoonbill cloth masks embroidered with J.N. "Ding"
Darling National Wildlife Refuge. They have been donated to The Nature Store to continue the Society's mission of raising funds to support the many wonderful education and conservation
programs at the refuge. 100% of the proceeds raised go directly to support these programs. Find them exclusively online at ShopDingDarling.com. As these masks are all handmade with love, there are only a limited number available, be sure to get yours before they're gone!
Questions about purchasing online and shipping to anywhere in the U.S.? Please
email
us as we work remotely from home.
Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs and wildlife research.
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 Support Those Who Support Us
The 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.
Mitchell's Sand Castles: Enjoy the charm of island beach cottage living at this intimate resort, now open for reservations. Its efficiencies, cottages, and homes cluster along the sands and water at 3951 W. Gulf Drive. Call 239-472-1282 or visit its website for reservations.
Island Paws: For island pet-owners, this is a regular shopping stop in Olde Sanibel Shoppes at 630 Tarpon Bay Road. Besides stocking supplies and gifts for cats and dogs, it is home to Yellow Dog Market & Bakery, specializing in all-natural pet foods and treats. Call 239-395-1464.
 Suncatchers' Dream: In the same shopping center, you'll want to stop at Suncatchers' to find gifts for everyone on your list, including yourself. From jewelry and its popular star lanterns to, of course, suncatchers, you will find the artful and whimsical. Call 239-472-7860.
 Sanibel Moorings Resort: On Monday, Sanibel Moorings reopened its doors at 845 E. Gulf Drive on Sanibel. The beachfront resort offers short- and long-term vacation rentals in fully furnished one- to three-bedroom condo suites and is known for its lush botanical gardens. Call 239-472-4119 for information and reservations. |
Blast from the Past
As we approach the official
75th Refuge Anniversary
on December 1, 2020, we take a look back,
through historic photographs,
over the past three-quarters of a century that the Refuge has been in existence.
Photo to the left: The Refuge's first manager, Tommy Wood, right, was a pilot who patrolled the Refuge via seaplane. In this picture, he poses with early ranger, Charles LeBuff, and Ralph Woodring, Jr. Ralph is the son of Ralph Woodring, Sr., whose family lived near Tommy, and whose historic homestead is now part of the Refuge. Thanks to the Woodring family for the photo.
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Your Backyard Nature
Whether you live on Sanibel Island or in a completely different environment in faraway places like New York State or California, we want to see what you're seeing in your habitat while you are staying safe at home.
Thank you to Polly Huntington of Farmington, Connecticut, for sharing a backyard nature photo of her "sous chef" friend, a Black Bear.
Please
email
your 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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Green Gardening
If you're among those who turned to gardening for diversion during quarantine, keep up the healthy pastime. Did you know you can recycle seeds from everyday foods you're eating, such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and potato "eyes?" Re-use empty toilet paper rolls to make seedling starter pots. Simply slit the bottom ends vertically and push them into the tube to form the bottom.
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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.
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Baby Great Horned Owl
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Location: 18,000 acres; Montpelier, Idaho
Totemic Flora & Fauna:
Great Horned Owl, Black-crowned Nigh Heron, Sandhill Crane
Visitor's Tips: June is a good month for visitors to see young birds.
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| Images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
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| Black-crowned Night Heron |
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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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When the humidity hits and your hair does not cooperate? More likely for this Reddish Egret, however, its feathers are disrupted from running around the shallows and leaping in the air while stabbing at fish. This feeding behavior draws a lot of attention to these birds, making them an enjoyable sight at the Refuge.
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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75th Anniversary Island "Spoonie" Island Scavenger Hunt Kick-off
- TBD
75th Anniversary "Ding:" The Man, The Art, The Stories Exhibition Opening
- October 20, 2020
75th Anniversary Proclamation at City Hall - November 3, 2020
Official 75th
Anniversary Celebration
- December 1, 2020
Clyde Butcher Book Signing - December TBD
National Bird Day - January 5, 2021
Friday Lecture Series - Select Fridays January 29-March 19, 2021
Volunteer Training
- January 14, 2021
2021 Annual Fundraiser - February 10, 2021
Niki Butcher Photographic Exhibition - November 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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