"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
In This Issue
"Ding" Days Sponsors
Upcoming Events
Welcome Interns!
"Ding" Days Highlight
Wildlife Sightings
Darling Documentary Filming
Teacher Grant Deadline
spotlight
Refuge Nature Store Spotlight
Just in! This 24-ounce custom Tervis Tumbler comes with a lid
 and colorful Refuge wildlife
art by Sanibel-Hawaii artist Lynne Egensteiner. It sells for 24.99. Order yours today by calling
239-472-1100 ext.241 or emailing the bookstore.   They make great holiday gifts!

 

See Ranger Toni's Video on "Ding" Days"!

The Blue Goose is the official mascot of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Quick Links
2012 "Ding" Days Sponsors
ding logo2 
Thanks to our "Ding" Darling Days 2012 sponsors for making this event possible. 
Lee County Electric Co-op (LCEC), RLR Investments, Rochester Resorts, Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club.

UPCOMING EVENTS

calendar  

Sep. 29, 2012   Kick the Bottle Kickoff - National Public Lands Day
Oct. 14-20, 2012     

"Ding" Darling Days
Oct. 20, 2012    

Welcome Archway Unveiling

Oct. 20, 2012             
"Ding" Days Conservation Art Day
November 2012  TBA
Refuge Nature Store Holly Day
of Shopping
Dec. 12, 2012
Refuge Nature Store Holly Day of Shopping
Jan. 16-18, 2013
Living with Dinosaurs Week
Jan. 18 - Apr. 5, 2013
Friday Lecture Series (Sponsored by Shell Point Retirement Community)
Jan., 2013 Biweekly   
Inaugural Refuge Film Series (Sponsored by the Sanctuary Golf Club)
Feb. 8, 2013
Don & Lillian Stokes Refuge Tours 
February 2013 TBA   
Cuckoo for "Ding" Trailgating Party
May 3 - 4, 2013
What action, if any, do you want your members to take? Add a "Find out more" link to additional information that you may have hosted on your website

 

 August 23, 2012
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New Bird ID Signage 

 

As part of its ongoing mission to educate Refuge visitors about local wildlife, DDWS obtained a $4,000 grant from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation's Arts & Attractions Board to place five "Birds of the Refuge" panels along Wildlife Drive.  Many of the 800,000 visitors are unfamiliar with the birds who visit the refuge.  These signs display those birds most commonly seen on the refuge.  

Bird Panel Anne Douglass 

Here Anne Douglas (center), director of programs for the Arts & Attractions Grants Committee, admires the new signs with DDWS Executive Director Birgie Vertesch and Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland.     

Welcome New Interns!

The two newest interns to join the Society and Refuge believe that fate has a way of working in mysterious ways. Jess Shelton and Karen Lopresti both attended Hanover College in southern Indiana.

 

Karen Lopresti and Jess Shelton

While studying there, they met Hanover alum Birgie Vertesch, DDWS executive director, who was attending a class READ MORE

"Ding" Days Highlight
Learn more about the Sanibel Bear's Refuge adventures
Each DOTW issue, we will highlight one event during "Ding" Darling Days, Oct. 14-20. Here's this week's:

 

Tuesday, Oct. 16 - Our Refuge Day

1pm-2pm FREE Story of the Sanibel Bear Presentation

 EC auditorium

Click Here to view activities

  Black Bear

 

Mike Orlando, FWC Bear Management, captured the Sanibel Bear. He will tell the story with pictures and words. READ MORE 

 

 

Wildlife Sightings  
Week ending August 21, 2012

Double-Crested Cormorant seen on Wildlife Drive 
Photo taken by Pat Lussier


Darling Documentary Filming & Premiere

Film producer Samuel Koltinsky of Marvo Entertainment Group spent 10 days this month finishing up filming and interviewing at the Refuge for the forthcoming hour-long documentary America's Darling: The Story of Jay N. "Ding" Darling. 

For filming at the Refuge, Sam brought along two national treasures. The first, the great-great grandson of Jay Norwood "Ding"  Darling,  READ MORE

 Marvo

 
Teacher Grants Deadline
 
October 31 marks the deadline for application for DDWS' seventh annual teachers conservation education grants. The Society donates five grants of up to $1,000 each to Lee 
Manatee Elementary used 2011 grant funds to visit the Refuge for its "The Student Becomes the Teacher" project.
County schools for conservation education-related projects. Scho
ols may use the grant money to   CLICK to READ MORE
These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge.  Please check our website at www.dingdarlingsociety.org to learn more!   
 
Sincerely,
Birgit Vertesch, Executive Director
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society  
 
"Ding" On the Wing composed by Chelle Walton