"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
In This Issue
Operation Hook, Line, & Sinker
Refuge Nature Store
Upcoming Events
Sea Turtle Education
Welcome Summer Staffers
Archway Unveiling
TBE Supports Victims
Wildlife Signtings
Upcycle!
 Art Fest
 
Attention all artists and art-lovers!
April 26-27, 2014, marks our inauguaral
Upcycle! Art Fest--Sanibel Island's first juried arts and crafts festival to require 60 percent usage (or more) of repurposed and re-envisioned materials. Stay tuned for more information!
  
Shooting Project Big 5 
 
Cinematographer Cameron Michael (foreground) stalks the elusive mangrove cuckoo with the Ecostudies Institute cuckoo research team. The mangrove cuckoo is one of the Refuge's
Big 5 birds he has filmed for an upcoming video project funded by a BP Amoco marketing grant. Stay tuned for more Refuge
Big 5 birds- or maybe you can guess them?
cuckoo, cameron
A photo of the video screen Cameron captured of the Mangrove Cuckoo
  
Quick Links
Operation Hook, Line, & Sinker
 
Operation Hook, Line, & SInker, conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at "Ding" Darling last month, was a great success with more than 500 pounds of fishing line, nets, and other wildlife-endangering materials collected from water control structures along Wildlife Drive. Those involved in the operation freed many marine animals that were hopelessly tangled in fishing lines and nets.
  
Refuge Nature Store Highlights
  
As fanciful as the sea itself, the Refuge Nature Store's newest jewelry sets pair shell and sea star earrings with lovely multi-media necklaces. Sets run in the $20-$25 range. Stop in to have a look today, or call 239-472-1100 ext 241 or email to mail order. Remember, all proceeds from Nature Store purchases benefit Refuge Wildlife.   
Upcoming Events
attractions clipart 
May 21-August 15
  
June TBD: Children's Education Boardwalk Ribbon Cutting
  
October 20-26 "Ding" Darling Days
  
April 26-27, 204 Upcycle! Art Fest
  
May 2 -3, 2014
  
  
 June 6, 2013
banner
 Preservation Campaign      
                       campaign       
If you would like to make a gift to support the "Ding" Darling Preservation Campaign, call the "Ding" Darling office at 239.292.0566, email us or click here.   
Teacher Grants
As schools adjourned for the summer, teachers who received 2013 "Ding" Darling Teacher Conservation Education Grants sent in pictures of their class projects in progress. Here, Edison Park Elementary School of Fort Myers works on its "Ding" Darling Bird Expedition" project. We will be sharing more this summer on Facebook and future "Ding" on the Wing bulletins, so stay tuned.
   
  The teacher grants are funded by DDWS monies received from the "Ding" Darling Foundation under the direction of "Ding" Darling's grandson, Kip Koss, and earmarked specifically for education. For information on grants, contact Becky Wolff at 239-472-1100 ext. 237 or email Doris Hardy, or click here.   
New Intern Housing
May 23, 2013, marked the housewarming reception for a new four-bedroom intern housing modular unit at the Refuge. Representatives from the Lee County Mosquito Control District, DDWS, and the Refuge gathered to celebrate.

 Student interns are an integral part of the Refuge conservation team, especially now that the government has placed a freeze on Refuge hiring, says Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik.

 

Realizing the need for more housing to replace deteriorated units, Refuge volunteer Tim Gardner, prior to his death late last year, approached the Lee County Mosquito Control READ MORE 

Sea Turtle Education
Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland and the Blue Goose hand out sea turtle brochures and kids' acivity booklets to resort and Chamber of Commerce representatives.
 In time for nesting season, the Refuge has collaborated with beachfront resort partners on Sanibel and Captiva islands to assist with distributing educational materials. The project was funded in whole by a grant awarded from the Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded from proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. Learn more at www.helpingseaturtles.org. Resorts that have pledged to assist READ MORE license
Welcome Summer Staffers

  With federal budgets currently freezing refuge hiring, the Refuge - which lost two key staff members already this year -- is happy to welcome two temporary staffers to help out with the workload.

 

 Intern Amber Walden joined the Refuge staff on May 20 as part of the Career Development Intern Program (CDIP), a partnership between the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Student Conservation Association. She began her orientation at the Refuge along with 26 other students in the program. Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, Amber now studies history with a minor in Russian at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

 

 Last year's STAR (Summer Teachers Assisting Refuges) teacher, Jillian Meek, a Helping/Field Trip Teacher in the Environmental Education Department for Lee County School District, returns to also help out with Refuge education. The STAR position at "Ding" Darling is made possible by a grant from the LAT Foundation to "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society.

National Trails Day
 The Refuge celebrated the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day on June 1, 2013, with hikes, trail and classroom activities, and the unveiling of a new Welcome Archway at the end the ramp leading to the FREE Education Center. The AWC Family Foundation helped fund the colorful, inviting  archway with a grant designed to drive traffic into the center . Here, Refuge and DDWS staff unveil the colorful 3-D sculpture. On the right, one young visitor poses like an anhinga along the Animals Olympic trail.
Just one of the many creatures included in the welcome archway.  Come visit and see how many you can spot!
Just one of many wildlife friends included in the welcome archway designed and handmade by Wingin' it Works. Stop by and see how many you can spot!
TBE Supports Victims
One kayaking group whose tour fees helped Boston victims on May 11
 
On Saturday, May 11, Tarpon Bay Explorers donated $4,500.52 -- their entire sales for the day -- to victims of the Boston Marathon bombing through The ONE Fund. And that's not all...
  On Saturday, June 8, TBE will donate all proceeds from rentals and tours to benefit the victims of the Oklahoma tornado.  That's our terrific concession partners for you! Thanks to Winston and Barbara Spurgeon and Wendy Schnapp for extending their kindness and making this effort possible. Please come out and support the benefit initiative.

Wildlife Sightings

Week ending June 4, 2013

Black Crowned Night Heron

Photo by: Al Hoffacker

  
Current
  
  
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 intern Jess Shelton