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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
In This Issue
March15 Lecture
America's Darling Film
Nature Store Spotlight
Swamp Party!
Biology Update
Wildlife Sightings
Quick Links
Watch the Ospreys Hatch!
The Osprey Cam at Ocean's Reach Condos, in partnership with "Ding" Darling, is focused now on mama osprey hatching three eggs. Have a look and monitor the progress!
  
 Rangers Paul and Toni Lecture
Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik and Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland will share stories and images from their international outreach missions in 2012 during a special presentation at the Refuge on Friday, March 15, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in th

e free Education Center.

Paul Tritaik and Toni Westland with souvenirs from their Asian travels
As part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs' Wildlife Without Borders initiative, Toni traveled to Siberia for two weeks in July 2012 and Paul spent 17 days in central and southern China READ MORE 
  
America's Darling Film
The Refuge's inaugural eight-week Film Series which is sponsored by the Sanctuary Golf Club, continues on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in the "Ding" Darling Education Center auditorium with the documentary America's Darling: The Story of Jay N. "Ding" Darling. 
The film, nearly three years in the making, has traveled throughout the U.S. READ MORE 
Refuge Nature Store Spotlight

Women's T-Shirt

The Refuge Nature Store is featuring its newest addition to the clothing line . . . a women's cut t-shirt! Highlighting the Refuge's most sought-after bird, the Roseate Spoonbill.  Sizes range from extra-small to extra-large for $19.99.
   Stop in to check out our selections, or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or email to order. All proceeds from Refuge Nature Store purchases benefit Refuge wildlife.

attractions clipart    

UPCOMING EVENTS

 January - April 2013

Lecture Series sponsored by Shell Point Retirement Community

 

January - April 2013

Film Series sponsored by The Sanctuary Golf Club

 

May 3, 4, 2013

"Ding" Darling Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament!

 

 March 7, 2013
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Children's Education 
Boardwalk Groundbreaking

 

An artist's rendering of the boardwalk's observation deck.

Representatives from the Refuge, the Wildlife Society, and The Sanibel School gathered last week with donors and green architect Amy Nowacki to break ground for the long-anticipated Children's Education Boardwalk that will connect school and Refuge property. 

  

boardwalk grndbrk
Refuge staff, school leaders, donors and volunteers at the groundbreaking. A public ribbon cutting will take place when the construction is complete

From a locked gate on school property, the boardwalk will cross a brackish wetland currently inaccessible to the public en route to the Refuge's Indigo Trail. It will give school children and visitors up-close views of alligators, wading birds, READ MORE 

Preservation Campaign UPDATE
 

Gifts to the Preservation Campaign continue to arrive and each day we get closer to reaching our $1.8 million goal to protect the Woodring Homestead and update the 12 year old Education Center. 

campaign donor
TBE Naturalist guide Donna Yetsko was so passionate about protecting the Woodring homestead that one of her customers made a gift of $500 to do his part in making it happen

 

From SCCF encouraging their members to support the effort to volunteers at the Farmers Market and in the "Ding" Darling Education Center, to the trained naturalist guides at Tarpon Bay Explorers, a big thank you to everyone for helping us to reach our goal. 

 

To learn more about the campaign CLICK HERE or call Executive Director Birgie Vertesch at 239.292.0566 or by email.  Gifts of ALL sizes make a difference and will help us reach our goal before our September deadline. 

 

Swamp House Party  March 15

 The Sanibel Community House hosts Swamp House Party from 7 to 10 p.m. on March 15 with "Ding" Darling as the featured nonprofit. Don your country duds and jam to the authentic back-country music of the popular Yard Dogs band, which will be their last public appearance. Their music is a blend of Zvdeco, blues, Cajun, folk and rock which they call "Florida Swamp Music".  Admission is $20 each or $30 at the door.  It includes tapas-style snacks provided by Bailey's General Store. Alcoholic beverages will be available by donation. Make your reservations in advance at 239-472-2155.  Come join the Refuge staff and friends at the March 15 Swamp House Party! 

Biology Intern Update

 Biology interns Cassie Cook and Sheena Wheeler update us on wildlife activity and biology activities in and around the Refuge including the ghost crab and green tree frog. Donations to the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society help support the biology and intern programs and supply research equipment.

   Ghost Crabs - By Sheena Wheeler

My project is to investigate the numbers of ghost crabs using certain areas of Sanibel's gulf-side beaches. I will

Sheena's Test Grid

count ghost crab burrows on the beaches just after sunrise. Monitoring the number of ghost crabs is important, because they may be a good indicator of the health of our sandy beaches.

 I will survey two beaches, one at the Refuge's Perry Tract (near Gulfside City Park) and another near Beach Access #2. I will count burrows at random points at each site, starting at the vegetation line and ending at the high tide line from the previous night. The Refuge and other island partners may use the data to develop long-term monitoring plans to assess the health of Sanibel beaches.  

 Geen Tree Frogs - By Cassie Cook

For my project, I am researching habitat characteristics that may influence the current location and abundance of the green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) on Sanibel. I will be performing

Cassie's Frog Traps

weekly evening frog call surveys as well as trapping frogs to determine population abundance at sites that are known to have green tree frogs.

   I will also be taking water quality measurements such as pH, temperature, and salinity to determine if there is a relationship between these habitat characteristics and numbers of frogs. The Refuge uses the green tree frog to monitor the health of freshwater wetlands, and I hope this project will be able to provide valuable information to aid in maintaining these habitats on Refuge lands.

 

Birders - The Central Park Effect for Sale 
Miss the film last week?  No worries! The Refuge Nature Store is selling Birders: The Central Park Effect dvd for only $20!  

Stop in or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or email to order. Recently featured on HBO, this is a great film highlighting the people and birds of Central Park. 
Only 22 spots remain for 2nd annual "Ding" Darling Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament
     Termed a "catch, release, and care" tournament, the second annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on May 4, 2013 is gearing up to be another success.  Limited to 50 teams, there are only 22 spots remaining.  To register or become a tournament sponsor, please click here or contact Birgie Vertesch by email or 239-292-0566.   
 FMBTHC
 Title Sponsor: Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille
 
Wildlife Sightings  
Week ending March 5,
 2013
Photo:  Taken along Wildlife Drive by Kristi Cox of Chicago Illinois
  
  
Current
Wildlife Sightings
  
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