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In This Issue
Photo Workshop
Hotel Guest Partners
Recycled Art Exhibit
Trip Advisor
Cane Toads on Sanibel
New Intern
"Ding" Days Events
Wildlife Sightings
Quick Links
Photo Workshop
Ants by Don Parsons
The last of four monthly macro nature photography workshop with Tarpon Bay Explorer's Don Parsons takes place from 9 a.m. until noon on Sunday, August 18, at the Refuge. Click here for more information. 
  
Hotel Guest Partners
The Refuge's Blue Goose mascot has been making cameo appearances at our
Guest Contribution Program (GCP) partner properties. Here he poses with Oriana Oliveros from Mitchell's Sand Castles/Forty Fifteen Resort. For more information on becoming involved in GCP, whereby guests can opt to contribute $1 per night to the Refuge, please contact 
  
Refuge Nature Store
Let your feet go wild in these fun socks featuring alligators, owls, turtles, dolphins, birds, and birders. Each pair just $9.99.
Stop in at the Refuge Nature Store to have a look today, or call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or email to have your socks delivered. Remember, all proceeds from Nature Store purchases benefit Refuge wildlife. 
  
Recycled Art Exhibit
   As a prelude to the Refuge's upcoming Upcycle! Art Fest,
April 26-27, festival committee member and Refuge volunteer Maryann Czarnecki is showing some of her creative works in Auditorium B in the FREE "Ding" Darling Visitors Education Center. Stop in and have a look. All of her pieces are made from trash.
  
Prescribed Burn 
Congratulations to the Refuge and partners for a successful burn at Bailey Tract last week. Prescribed burns help reduce the risk of wildfires like those threatening lives and homes out West this summer
Trip Advisor Awards
Tarpon Bay Explorers co-owner Wendy Schnapp and Supervisory Refue Ranger Toni Westland show off their Trip Advisor trip advisorawards.
 
TripAdvisor� has awarded both the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Tarpon Bay Explorers (TBE), the Refuge's official recreation concession, 2013 Certificates of Excellence. To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain READ MORE

  

"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
 August 15, 2013
Wildlife Education Boardwalk Opens!      
Come see the new boardwalk for yourself on special Thursday tours. 
   The public had a chance to see and walk the new Wildlife Education Boardwalk Monday, following a short ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Refuge.
 
   While Wildlife Drive access to the boardwalk remains closed through September 2013, the public will be able to enter the structure by special tour every Thursday at 10 a.m. beginning Aug. 22 through Sept. 26, 2013. Originally called the Children's READ MORE
ribbon cutting
Photo by Terry Baldwin
Invasive Cane Toads on Sanibel - Update
Refuge and SCCF biologists capturing cane toads.
   Last month, during monthly frog call surveys on Sanibel conducted by staff from the Refuge and  the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), populations of giant toads (Rhinella marinus), also known as cane toads or marine toads, were first discovered breeding in a temporary wetland near West Gulf Drive. Since then, biologists have found more. This species poses a SERIOUS threat to wildlife on Sanibel, as well as domestic pets. Click here to see the latest report from our intern biologists. 
 Welcome New Intern
sarah
From Indiana, Sarah is looking forward to spending the next 6 months working with the Refuge team

 Sarah Lathrop

                             

 Upon the outcome of a successful experiment last year, when "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society hired two interns whose services the Society would share with the Refuge, a new shared-use intern, Sarah Lathrop, recently joined the Refuge. "I was actually getting ready to accept a position at a third party logistics company in Indianapolis" says Sarah.  Then I received a call from  READ MORE
  
"Ding" Days Events
FREE Family Fun Day, presentations about birds and Calusa Indians, free and discounted tours, Conservation Art Day: All highlights of the 24th annual "Ding" Darling Days-October 20-26, 2013. Click here to have a look at the events schedule and make plans.
 
Thanks to our generous sponsors for supporting "Ding" Darling Days: 

 

GREAT EGRET:Ocean's Reach CondominiumsMatzaluna Italian Kitchen

 

GREAT BLUE HERON: Arthur PrintingBailey's General Store, Island Sun, Jerry's Foods, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Sanibel Captiva Trust Company, Jim & Patty Sprankle, West Wind Inn

 

REDDISH EGRET: Mike & Terry Baldwin, Big Red Q Quickprint, Caloosa Tent & RentalCasa Ybel Resort, Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry, Rotary Club of Sanibel-Captiva
Sandalfoot CondosSanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club;
Tween Waters Inn.

 

SNOWY EGRET: Art & Susan Cassell, Barefoot Charley's Painting Co., Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP), Congress JewelersDan Hahn Custom Builders, George & Wendy's Seafood Grille, Good WheelsGrounds by Greenways, Island Therapy Center, Mast Family Culligan, Nave Plumbing, Over Easy CafePanther Printing; Wendy & George Schnapp,  She Sells Sea Shells, Winston & Barbara Spurgeon; Suncatcher's Dream

 

Presented by "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, 

Tarpon Bay Explorers, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 

mark calendar
Upcoming Events

 

October 20-26 "Ding" Darling Days 

December 3 - Ladies-Only Holiday Shopping
 
  
December 13 -  Volunteer Luncheon
  
  
December 23 - Men-Only Last Minute Holiday Shopping
  
January 5-April 20 2014 - Winter Refuge Programs
  
January 8-April 16 2014 - Bi-Weekly  Film Series
  
January 17-April 11 2014 - Weekly Friday Lecture Series
  
February 21 -2nd Annual Trailgate Party 
  
February 28 - Stokes Birding Tour (Call NOW to hold your spot.  239.472.1100 ext. 4)
  
February 28 - Volunteer Awards Luncheon
  
April 19 - Earth Day at the Refuge & Plein Air Painters
  
April 26-27  - Upcycle! Art Fest
  

 

Save 25%
Residents of Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties can take advantage of a 25% discount all September long on rentals at Tarpon Bay Explorers, the Refuge's official recreation concession. The discount applies to kayak, pontoon boat, bicycle, and stand-up paddleboard rentals.
  
Wildlife Sightings- Summer Sightings
Fiddler Crab Photo By: Terry Baldwin
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