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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
In This Issue
"Ding" DVD
Upcoming Events
Lecture Series
Sprankle Carving
Sanibel Rice Rat
Wildlife Sightings
 Used Furniture Needed
Got some furniture, or appliances you would like to get

furniture

 

rid of? Please consider donating items for our intern housing. Lee County Mosquito District has donated mobile housing to the Refuge, but the units will need to be outfitted before they become habitable. Please take a look at our list of needs by clicking HERE and contact Birgie Vertesch at  

 

239-292-0566 or email if you can help.

 
shopping
 Holly Days Shopping This Weekend! 
 

Skip the mall crowds, the Black Friday madness, and the big-box stores. Shop for unique, truly Sanibel items during the Refuge Nature Store's two Holly Days events on Saturday, November 24, and Wednesday, December 12 (a.k.a. 12/12/12) starting at 2 p.m. 

During the festive events, the top-rated Refuge Nature Store will showcase special new gifts

 



Refuge Nature Store Spotlight
dvd
Darling on DVD

If you missed the premiere of America's Darling: The Story of Jay N. "Ding" Darling during "Ding" Darling Days, or caught it and wantto own it, you are in luck! We have a limited number of DVD copies in the Nature Store. It is a wonderful story of an amazing man.  See rare footage of artifacts and images from the life of our Refuge's namesake.

 
Order yours today by calling 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or emailing the bookstore by Clicking Here.
Quick Links
Did you Hear? 

Hearing

 

USA TODAY recently listed Sanibel and "Ding" Darling as one of "10 great places for families to escape the snow." CLICK HERE to read more.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

 Calendar  

 

Nov. 24, 2012

Refuge Nature Store "Holly Day"

 

Dec. 12, 2012

Refuge Nature Store "Holly Day"

 

Dec. 27, 2012

Yellowstone Wolf Expert Doug Smith Lecture @ 11:00 a.m.

 

Feb. 15, 2013

Cuckoo For "Ding" Trailgate Party

 

 November 21, 2012
banner
 
Thanksgiving3
At Thanksgiving, more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress at the Society and the J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR possible. Let us all give thanks for every small and great thing in our lives. May you and your loved ones have a Happy Thanksgiving. 
Lecture Series Announced
The eagerly awaited "Ding" Darling Lecture Series kicks off at J.N. "Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island with an early lecture on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at 11 a.m Dr. Douglas W. Smith, a senior wildlife biologist for Yellowstone National Park will be presenting his program "The Wolves of Yellowstone: The First 15 Years" in the "Ding" Darling Education Center Auditorium.
Shell Point check
DDWS Executive Director Birgie Vertesch and Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik accept a check to finance the 2012-2013 Lecture Series from Lynn Schneider, assistant VP for marketing & communications at Shell Point Retirement Community.
 
Sponsored by the Shell Point Retirement Community, the regular 2013 Lecture Series season begins Friday, January 18, with an Alligators: Living Dinosaurs lecture Click Here to Read More
 

For info about our 2013 Film Series, sponsored by the Sanctuary Golf Club ,Click HERE.

Cuckoo for "Ding" Trailgate Party

  

Trailate party
Make plans now to attend Feb. 15!

 

 

  Master carver Jim Sprankle

  continues to work on the Mangrove Cuckoo sculpture that we will auction off for our Cuckoo for "Ding" Trailgate Party on February 15, 2013, at the Refuge. 

 

To get the sculpture in top artistic shape following its service in the field for the Refuge's first-of-its-kind Mangrove Cuckoo study, Jim had to strip it of its lacquer and paint. He is now refeathering it with delicate instruments to prepare it for its final paint job and perch on a mangrove branch. Cuckoo, trailgate1

Whoever goes home with this unique bird will have a priceless collectors item and will be helping protect the Mangrove Cuckoo where the dollars will go to support this research project.   

 

   To help raise additional support, event sponsors are needed.  Currently, the following individuals and businesses are sponsors.  Cuckoo LevelHans & Leslie Flesichner; Jim & Patty SprankleDolphin Level:  tba.  Bear Level:  tba  Gator LevelBailey's General Store; Gulf Coast Palm & TreeJacaranda Restaurant; John Grey Painting; Queenies Ice Cream; Sanibel Fish House; Suncatcher's Dream; The Sanibel Design Center and VIP Realty Group.  To read more about the event and how to become a sponsor, CLICK HERE   

 

New Exhibit Unveiled!

 Manatee Unveil  

A crowd of media, refuge donors and friends, The Sanibel School fifth-grade class, and representatives from the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) applauded at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, Nov. 13, as "Ding" Darling Refuge officials and partners unveiled the long-awaited Marvelous Manatees exhibit.  The exhibit enhances the educational value of an articulated manatee skeleton READ MORE

  Biology Update  - Sanibel Rice Rat

Update by Biology Intern Kim Ramos

 

Rice Rat
Sanibel Island is the only place in the world with this species of rat

The Sanibel Rice Rat, Oryzomys palustris sanibeli, is native to and found only on Sanibel Island. It has reddish brown fur, small round ears, pink feet, a tail that is darker on top than on bottom, and it lives in cordgrass marshes. The rat is listed as a species of special concern in Florida. Biologists at J.N "Ding" Darling NWR have been trapping annually for the Sanibel Rice Rat since 2003.

 

During the years of 2003-2006 an average of 18 rice rats were captured per year.  It wasn't until 2009 when the Refuge staff caught a rice rat, when two were found. Since then, trapping efforts have yielded no rice rats, until this year. 

 

During the last week of October, Refuge biologists trapped two rice rats. Both rats received uniquely numbered, silver ear tags. All rats captured are measured and released. The data that biologists are collecting will help guide habitat management decisions in the future to ensure the rice rat's continued survival. With another month and half left in trapping for this year, Refuge staff is looking forward to seeing more rice rats.

 

The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society supports the Refuge intern program with gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.

Wildlife Sightings  
Week ending November 20,
 2012
Woodstork, HM Sherm Bedford
2012 Honorable Mention Sherm Bedford
 
 

 

Tide Information 

SATW Worldwide Phoenix Award
Phoenix awardThe Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) last week presented its 2012 Phoenix Award to the Refuge and Society jointly at a special reception at the Refuge. Dignitaries and refuge partners from Sanibel and the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) attended the reception. SATW journalist 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" On the Wing composed by Chelle Walton
Assisted by interns Karen Lopresti and Jess Shelton

Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Wednesday, November 21: Everything OPEN as usual
Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving Day): Refuge Office and Education Center CLOSED; Wildlife Drive OPEN 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Tarpon Bay Explorers OPEN 8 a.m.-2 p.m. (some tours available, call 239-472-8900)
Friday, November 23: Refuge Office and Education Center OPEN 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wildlife Drive CLOSED (closed every Friday); Tarpon Bay Explorers OPEN as usual.