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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
In This Issue
Education Grant Received
"Ding" Days Sponsors
Upcoming Events
'Ding' Darling Days Highlight
NWRA Photo Contest
Wildlife Sightings
Kick the Bottle
Stokes Tour
Quick Links
 
 
Education Grant Received
A BIG thanks to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, which just awarded DDWS with a $10,000 grant to help cover costs of the Refuge's adult and children educational  programs. 
 
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, Sandalfoot CondominiumsSanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Sep. 29, 2012

 Kick the Bottle Kickoff/National Public Lands Day

 

Oct. 14-20, 2012     

"Ding" Darling Days  

  

Nov.13, 2012

Marvelous Manatees Exhibit Unveiling. Sponsored by WCIND

manatee invite 

Nov. 24, 2012

Refuge Nature Store "Holly Day"

 

Dec. 12, 2012

Refuge Nature Store "Holly Day"

 

 September 20, 2012
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'Ding' Darling Takes Worldwide Award
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) last week presented a 2012 Phoenix Award to the Refuge and Society at a September 13 luncheon during its annual convention in Indianapolis.

"Ding" Darling was among six award recipients worldwide that ranged in geographic scope from the Charleston City Market in South Carolina to Kula Eco Park in Fiji.  

The Phoenix Award has been given READ MORE
Refuge Nature Store Spotlight

 

 It's a nautical chart! It's a necklace! It's both! These Sanibel Island chart necklaces are one more of the Refuge Nature Store's 30 new items to celebrate the Society's 30th anniversary. Order yours today by calling 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or emailing BOOKSTORE

'Ding' Darling Days Highlight 
Each issue, we will highlight one event during "Ding" Darling Days, Oct. 14-20. Here's this week's:
Experience the birds of Bunche Beach during two separate "Ding" Darling Days birding tours. 

Monday, Oct. 20 ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY
8-11am FREE Bunche Beach Birding Tram meet at EC flagpole

Friday, Oct 19 LET'S GET OUTSIDE DAY
11:30 am-2:30pm FREE Bunche Beach Birding Tram meet at EC flagpole

Space is limited and reservations are required for the Bunche Beach Tours. Call 239-472-8900

Click here for a complete schedule of "Ding" Days Activities
NWRA Photo Contest
photo contest The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA), which oversees all refuge friends groups, has announced that its 2012 Refuge System Photo Contest is now open and accepting entries through October 12, 2012, the end of National Wildlife Refuge Week.
Southwest Airlines has generously donated the grand prize of $2,000 and four round-trip tickets. Other prizes include generous offerings from Eagle Optics, Orvis, Wild Bird Centers, and NatureShare.

For more information and contest detail, click here .   
Wildlife Sightings  
Week ending September 18, 2012
photo, Susan Winston
Photo by Susan Winston
 
 
Current Wildlife Sightings    

 

 
Kick the Bottle
The Refuge is building a tower of 200 plastic water bottles - the consumption of an average American in one year - for its Kick the Bottle campaign. 
"Ding" Darling is celebrating National Public Lands Day 2012 on September 29 by "kicking the bottle." The plastic water bottle, that is.  
 
On that day, the Refuge Nature Store will discontinue all sales of bottled water and will give away free reusable, collabsible water bottles carrying the Refuge's green "Kick the Bottle" logo to the first 200 arrivals for Public Lands Day events starting at 9 a.m. 
 
The refuge has installed two filtered water refill stations READ MORE
 

Don & Lillian Stokes Tour
Lillian Stokes (foreground) focuses her tour on photography, while husband Don demonstrates bird identification.
 Longtime Sanibel Island winter residents and nationally acclaimed bird authors and TV personalities Don and Lillian Stokes will once again contribute their time and expertise to lead two reservation only birders tram tours of "Ding" Darling Refuge this winter season on the morning of Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.  These tours will raise support for the refuge and the Stokes are doing this at no cost to the Refuge.  Wildlife Drive is normally closed on Fridays, meaning 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