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Junior Duck Stamp Judging |  |
Last week, judges selected the best of 2,369 Junior Duck Stamp entries from kindergarten through 12th grade students from across Florida. Judges Jim Sprankle, Cayle Thompson, Joyce Palmer, Don Wildman, and Ed Combs, pictured with Ranger Becky Wolff, who heads up the Florida contest.
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2011-2012 winning junior duck stamp by 17 year old Abraham Hunter of Illinois |
From the entries -the most ever entered in the history of the Florida competition- Jefferson Jones from Lehigh Acres took Best of Show for the third consecutive year. |
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Have You Earth-Cached the Refuge?
A recent log from a geocache web site:
"Log Date: 3/20/2013
Great end to a great hunt. I was planning on hunting in places I should not be, but after 10 minutes of contemplation and analysis, I thought I would try something I have never encountered in a geocache before. Very clever and well done. I thought the final prize was very appropriate! Happy hunting to all who follow!!"
The log-in refers to the Refuge's Earth-Caching, a twist on traditional geocaching, which involves GPS coordinates that lead cachers into typically green places to look for small prizes, which they replace with treasures of their own. At the Refuge, since taking and leaving things is not allowed, Earth-Caching takes a more nature-oriented turn. Cachers search instead for the location of interpretative signs and answer questions to earn a collectible path tag.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
April 20, 2013
Earth Day at the Refuge
May 3, 4, 2013
"Ding" Darling Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament!
May 21-August 15, 2013
Summer Programs at the Refuge
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Mangrove Cuckoo Donors
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Alice and Fred Stanback (left) publicly revealed their anonymous gift to pay homage to sculptor Jim Sprankle, pictured her with Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik.
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They created quite the drama when they anonymously bid $60,000 for the Jim Sprankle Mangrove Cuckoo sculpture at a February fundraiser at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, then turned around and donated it to the "Ding" Darling Education Center.
Island winter residents Fred and Alice Stanback, however, recently blew their cover to personally and meaningfully thank Jim for READ MORE
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From the Jane Werner Environmental Scholarship; the Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarships, the Jack & Dolores Clarke Scholarship, the Hans & Leslie Fleischner Scholarship to the Barbara Jean Keller Scholarship, there were a total of 12 individual scholarships awarded in 2012.
Graduating high school seniors and college students with professional goals to pursue science or biology with an environmental or natural resources focus, environmental education, or wildlife conservation will be given preference and are invited to apply for a READ MORE |
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Earth Day at the Refuge |
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Make a beautiful butterfly out of recycled plastic bottles during Earth Day's Earth Crafts activities. |
 Talk trash, meet Bagzilla, and create earth-friendly crafts at this year's Earth Day at the Refuge on Saturday, April 20, 2013. The Refuge will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day in READ MORE |
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Silver King for "Ding"
Dinner & Auction | 
Here's your chance! Join us for the
Silver King for "Ding" dinner & auction after party
Saturday May 4, 2013 at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille in FortMyers. Reservations are required and tickets are limited. To make your reservations, please contact Birgie Vertesch at 239.292.0566. |
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Refuge Nature Store Spotlight |
 Recipients can almost smell the sea when they open one of these notecards inspired by island shore life. Simple but artistic, they are the perfect vehicle for seaside sentiments and the disappearing art of note writing.
Stop in to pick up yours today for $8.99, or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or email to order. All proceeds from Refuge Nature Store purchases benefit Refuge wildlife. |
Wildlife Sightings Week ending April 2, 2013 |
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Pileated Woodpecker
By: Nancy C. Malson |
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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,
"Ding" On the Wing composed by Chelle Walton
Assisted by interns Karen Lopresti and Jess Shelton |
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