April 28, 2022

‘Ding’ Darling Day: A Conservation Carnival Celebration

“Ding” Darling Day started a new chapter in its 33-year history on Sunday, April 24, as the Refuge took it to the road at Lakes Park in Fort Myers. An important step in “Ding” Darling’s push for urban outreach, “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival brought a festive theme to the annual event, traditionally held in October, but postponed this season because of COVID uncertainties.

“We kept the educational components, but pepped it up with carnival games, a dunk tank, free snow cones, and prizes,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. “The WoW interactive mobile experience truly brought a piece of the Refuge to the event, plus we had birding and nature art tours, our plein-air Artist in Residence Jacqui Roch, and a bike tour.”

Thanks to our generous sponsors, partner exhibitors, and all the families and nature-lovers who came out to make it a well-attended event that hit its target of reaching locals who cannot always make it out to the Refuge to experience nature and conservation firsthand.

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

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

Great Blue Heron Sponsors: Gretchen Banks, John R. Wood Properties, The Island Sun and The River Weekly News

Reddish Egret Sponsors: Bank of the Islands, Media Source, Mike & Terry Baldwin, 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 Reality, Parker Waichman LLP, Sanibel Moorings, Southern SnoBalls, Tarpon Bay Explorers; 50% Off Framing, West Wind Inn, Stewart & Sons Insurance Inc., Homelight

Credit: David McCleaf/Visit Fort Myers

Two Tourney Spots Available

First come, first served: We have two spots available for the May 13 "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament. There’s a $1,000 entry fee for a team of up to four anglers. Add up to two more for $150 each. Contact April Boehnen at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 to reserve a spot.

2022 Tournament Sponsors

April Biology Highlights

Refuge Biological Science Technician Avery Renshaw reports on Refuge biology activities for the month. The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society supports her position:

Wildlife Drive bird surveys continue. We are starting to see less bird activity as summer creeps up. We have said our goodbyes to the last American White Pelicans and adult Roseate Spoonbills. BIO FACT: We have Roseate Spoonbills on the Refuge year-round. Adults will leave the Refuge in the summer to go nest elsewhere in the state, while some immature birds will stay in the area to spend the warm months
Sea Turtle Nesting Season has begun as of April 15. SCCF reported the first loggerhead nest on the islands yesterday, April 27. The Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part of our Southwest Florida National Wildlife Refuge Complex) will soon begin its sea turtle nesting monitoring efforts on its shores. I will be participating in some of these efforts.
I assisted in the Benedict Key oyster reef and mangrove restoration trip led by SCCF. Benedict Key is a Refuge-owned island that was decimated by Hurricane Charley, and restoration efforts are taking place to return the habitat to its original glory. The process includes dumping oyster shells and planting mangrove seedlings. These mangroves will eventually provide nesting structure for colonial wading and water birds, stabilize the sediment, and deter erosion. The oyster reef is being put down in front of these mangrove plantings to attenuate wave action to ensure the mangrove seedlings have a chance to establish themselves
Another colonial nesting survey took place on the water yesterday, April 27. We saw lots of nesting activity, including Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, and Brown Pelican chicks.
Bird-nesting season has begun! Along Indigo Trail, wading birds such as Green Herons, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, and Tricolored Herons have begun making their nests and laying eggs, and continue to wait (with the rest of us) for the chicks to hatch. Along with this, Killdeer nests have also begun hatching on the Refuge.

Donate to support Avery’s position and biological research at the Refuge.

Image: Benedict Key restoration. Photo credit: Shane Antalick

Families fashioned more than 150 make-and-take jellyfish crafts out of recycled plastic bottles throughout the day.

Earth Day Engages Host of Visitors

The Refuge celebrated the 52nd annual Earth Day on Friday, April 22, with special family activities throughout the day at the Refuge. Activities included a ranger-led hike on Indigo Trail, nature-sketching walks to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk, plus a scavenger hunt and Earth Day crafts outdoors on the Visitor & Education Center balcony.

Watch NBC2 Earth Day coverage, which included “Ding” Darling.

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

Your fee-booth vehicle admission buys three days of visiting this summer.

Summer Fees for Wildlife Drive

Admission fees for Wildlife Drive remain the same after season’s end. The $10 vehicle fee, however, holds good for three days of admission starting annually on May 1 and running through September. Keep your receipt to show at the entrance fee booth upon returning. Daily fees for cyclists and pedestrians are still $1 each visit for ages 16 and older.

Jim Bennight Nature Photography Exhibition

Art exhibitions have returned to the auditorium galleries in the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center. May 1 through June 30, the Photography of Jim Bennight is on display, including numerous pieces of his exquisite nature photography. Jim got started in photography during his university days as a stringer for United Press International syndicated news agency. After several years as a fulltime newspaper photographer, he opened a studio for portraits and weddings.

Along the way, Jim earned numerous state and regional awards for both his newspaper and studio work. He later discovered a passion for nature photography and, as a “Ding” Darling volunteer, spends much of his time capturing birds and other wildlife. This time of year, you will usually find him at the Wildlife Education Boardwalk shooting stunning images of nesting birds and their subsequent chicks.

Photograph is Jim Bennight with a Roseate Spoonbill in the background.

Scheduled Refuge art exhibitions:

Lori Lawrence Art Exhibition – Through April 30, 2022

Jim Bennight Nature Photography Exhibition - May 1-June 30, 2022

2022-23 Artist-in-Residence Jacqui Roch Exhibition - September 1-October 31, 2022

Vince Thomalla Art Exhibition - January-February 2023

Niki Butcher Art Exhibition - November 15-December 31, 2022

(sponsored by Wayne & Linda Boyd)

Matsumoto Art Exhibition – March-April 2023

May 14: World Migratory Bird Day at the Refuge

On Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., “Ding” Darling honors World Migratory Bird Day with a conservation fair on grounds in front of the Visitor & Education Center. The city of Sanibel and island conservation partners will set up booths to raise awareness for the plight of migrating birds caused by lighting in the night skies. Visit our partners, learn more, and spend time in the free Center. Then, go looking for birds on Wildlife Drive, and spread the word about dimming night lights to save wildlife.

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.

Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge

Location: 16,806 acres; 47 miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming

Totemic fauna: Wilson’s Phalarope, American Avocet, Pronghorn

Visitor tips: There is no visitor center at Pathfinder, but there is camping at Bishops Point Campground.

Image courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

GOING GREEN

Drive Green

As many make plans for road trips this summer, it’s a good time to review some tips for car travel that’s easy on the environment.

Buy a fuel-efficient, low-emissions vehicle.
Drive slower and smarter.
Keep up with regular maintenance.
Give renewable fuels a try.
Check your tires regularly.
Use the right kind of oil.

Source

Photo by Janet Kirk

Wildlife Sightings & Tides

Yellow-throated Warblers have been seen fluttering through the dense trees around the Refuge. Many warblers migrate from South America to Canada each year, but Yellow-throated Warblers are almost homebodies by comparison. They nest farther south than most warblers, winter farther north, and are even year-round residents in parts of the southern U.S.

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.