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Reminder:
April 20
Earth Day
at the Refuge
Don't forget to stop in for this year's Earth Day at the Refuge on Saturday, April 20, 2013. The Refuge will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day with FREE Wildlife Drive admission for cyclists and hikers, FREE bike rentals from Tarpon bay Explorers, Free nature crafts, and tours starting READ MORE |
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Save the Date |  |
Mark your calendars for this year's "Ding" Darling Days birding and eco-festival at the Refuge the week of Oct. 20-26, 2013. Muppeteer JIm Henson's daughter, Heather Henson with Ibex Puppertry, will return to perform a parade featuring life-sized endangered animal puppets. Stay tuned to www.dingdarlingdays.com for updates on the 24th annual festival. |
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Make your Reservations to attend "Silver King for Ding" Event May 4!
 | | Click Photo to make your reservation |
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Help Save Woodring Point
Preservation Campaign Continues! | |
Thanks to an anonymous challenge gift of $200,000, friends of the Refuge are coming forward to offer their su
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Volunteer Pat Appino looks forward to joining the celebration when the Society can say they have reached their goal! |
pport. The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Preservation Campaign is getting closer to reaching it's goal of $1.8 million to acquire 6 1/2 acres of senstive bay beach habitat located at Woodring Point and to update their 12 year old education center.
There is now $100,000 left before a celebration can be planned for the protection of this vital land. To learn more about the campaign, click HERE.  | |
Roy and Jackie Sweeney joining with
Jim Sprankle and others in recognizing the importance of saving this land and doing so by supporting this preservation campaign. |
To make a tax-deductible gift online, CLICK HERE. If you have any questions, please contact Birgie Vertesch at |
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Call for Bird Shots |
 | | Roseate Spoonbill portrait courtesy of Terry Baldwin. |
As we embark on a Refuge video project that focuses on our Big 5 Coastal Bird Species, we are looking for great video and high resolution still images of white pelicans, roseate spoonbills, mangrove cuckoos, reddish egrets, and yellow-crowned night herons-preferably taken in the Refuge.
If you have any of these or other stunning bird shots or Refuge scenery, please contact Birgie Vertesch at 239-292-0566 or by email. Contributors will receive credit and our appreciation! |
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National Volunteer Award | |
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Congratulations, Doris! You deserve it. |
Doris Hardy, a nine-year Refuge volunteer and vice president of the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, recently received word of the 2013 Exceptional Volunteer Award from Philanthropy Journal. The award is a result of nominations culled from nonprofit organizations throughout the nation.
"With National Volunteer Appreciation Week beginning April 21, the journal wanted to recognize volunteers around the country who make good things happen," said DDWS Executive Director Birgie Vertesch, who nominated Doris. "Doris definitely makes 'good things happen,'' and it is so exciting READ MORE |
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Summer Close-Up Nature Workshops |
 macro photography workshop at the Refuge. Don will share his years of experience as a professional photographer to enable you to get those great close-up pictures of flowers and insects. The workshop will cover basic camera settings for best photo quality, exposure considerations, lighting, macro equipment options, and techniques for taking close-up images. Macro photography does not have to be expensive and with today's technology almost anybody with a camera can explore the fascinating field.
Students should bring a camera, an extra camera battery, plenty of room on digital storage media, an exernal flash, a tripod, a towel or pad to kneel on as subjects are often low to the ground, and any available macro lenses or filters students may have. The class is based on using a DSLR camera, although point-and-shoot camera usually have excellent macro capabilities.
Dates for the three-hour worskop are
May 18, June 16, July 20, and August 18. The workshops are appropriate for ages 13 and older and restricted to 30 people per session. Reservations are required at
239-472-8900. Cost is
$40 per person. |
Wildlife Sightings Week ending April 16, 2013 |
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Great Blue Heron
By: Robert Kimbrell |
Current
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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 intern Jess Shelton |
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