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In This Issue
2014 Film Series
"In the Pink" Trailgate Party
Upcoming Events
Wildlife Sightings
"Ding" Darling Days Update
Free Wildlife Drive Days
Friday Lecture Series Preview
New Intern
"Ding" Days Sponsors
Upcycle! Art Fest Deadlines



Artists who wish to take advantage of a discount on application fees for the inaugural Upcycle! A
Artist Andrew Corke's award-winning anhinga, fashioned out of bike tires and other repurposed materials, will be one of many artworks for sale at the inaugural Upcycle! Art Fest.
rt Fest on Sanibel, April 26-27, 2014, must register by Oct. 30, 2013. Final registration deadline is Nov. 30, 2013. Please click HERE for registration information and forms.
2014 Film Series
Click HERE to see this season's lineup and film descriptions.
Mark your Calendar
Get ready to party at the Refuge.. for the Refuge!
February 21, 2014

  
Quick Links
16th Annual Environmental Breakfast

SW FL Audubon

October 24, 7:00 a.m.

East Riverside Community Center

For more information, email:

info@audubonswfl.org

 

   
October 21-26 "Ding" Darling Days 
 
November 9- Kids Fishing Derby
  
 
  
December 13- Captiva Village Mullet March
 
 
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  - Only 20 spots remain!
 
April 19 - Earth Day at the Refuge & Plein Air Painters
  
April 26-27  - Upcycle! Art Fest

May 2 -3 - "Ding" Darling Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament! 

 

      Wildlife Sightings
"Birds Gone Wild" with their 6 month break from people.. come check out the Drive!

  
  
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
 October 18, 2013
The Refuge is OPEN!
Media and visitors poured in yesterday to celebrate the long-awaited re-opening of the Refuge. Reports say the birding is better than ever since the wildlife enjoyed a bit of a respite. Come on over and have a look at the wildlife at our new Wildlife Education Boardwalk, along Indigo Trail and experience the improved pavement along Wildlife Drive to make biking the Refuge much more pleasant!
 

  
"Ding" Darling Days
Family Fun Day
(Oct. 20) remains cancelled despite the Refuge's reopening. The government shutdown made it necessary to cancel arrangements with our out-of-town presenters and exhibitors.
However, the rest of the week's activities - recreational tour discounts, presentations, and free tours and other activities - will continue as scheduled. Click HERE for more information.
  

Monday, October 21 is FULL of Fun activities.  Programs at the free Visitor's/Education Center: 

 

10-11am FREE Naturalist-narrated walking tour of Indigo Trail and the NEW Children's Education Boardwalk, meet at EC flagpole.
11am-12noon FREE Reddish Egret Talk, EC Auditorium
Dr. Kenneth Meyer, University of Florida 

 

1:30-2:30pm FREE Story of Ospreys Presentation
Mark "Bird" Westall and Claudia Burns, International Osprey Foundation.
                       
At Tarpon Bay Explorers:

8:30-10am Breakfast Nature & SeaLife Cruise* 25% off
 11am-12:30pm Sea Life & Nature Cruise, TBE*   25% off
11:30am-1:30pm Guided Kayak Tour, TBE*  25% off

12:45-1:15pm FREE Deck Talk: Sharks, Tarpon Bay Explorers 

 

The FREE Bunche Beach Birding Tram will still run on Wednesday, Oct. 23, and Thursday, Oct. 24.

It is free, but reservations are required.  Call Tarpon Bay Explorers at (239) 472-8900.

  
FREE Wildlife Drive Days
Bike, hike, or tram the Refuge on Friday, October 25, and have Wildlife Drive virtually all to yourself.
To celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week, the Refuge has opened admission to the newly improved Wildlife Drive for FREE on two days during next week's "Ding" Darling Days.
  
Cyclists and pedestrians can enter FREE on Friday, October 25, 2013. (The Drive usually closes to all traffic on Fridays.) On Saturday, October 26, the Drive is open for FREE to all during Conservation Art Day, which READ MORE
  
Friday Lecture Series 2014 Preview
The free 2014 lectures will be held twice each
Friday, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Book signings follow all of the starred (*) lectures. Seating for the lectures is limited and available on a first-come basis.

 

A special THANK YOU to  which is  the official sponsor of this season's Friday Lecture Series.

 

January 17 - TBD
 *January 24 - Charles LeBuff & Deborah Gleason Sanibel & Captiva Islands: A Look Back in Time

*January 31 - John Englander, Author - High Tide on Main Street

*February 7 - Don & Lillian Stokes - 3 Easy Steps to Bird ID

February 14 - Brian "Fox" Ellis - John J. Audubon Re-enactor

February 21 - Kenneth Meyer, University of Florida - The Magnificent  Frigatebird

February 28 - Volunteer Luncheon/No Lecture

March 7 - Joy Hazell, Florida Sea Grant - Learning and Loving Mangroves

March 14 - Mike Owen, Biologist - Fakahatchee Strand

March 21 - Rick BonneyCornell Lab of Ornithology - Citizen Science

March 28 - Erin Myers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Florida Panthers

*April 4 - Charles LeBuff, Naturalist & Chris Lechowicz, SCCF - Amphibians & Reptiles of Sanibel & Captiva Islands

*April 11 - Clyde Butcher, Wildlife Photographer -

Florida: Where Water, Earth & Heaven Meet

 

 

 

Welcome New Intern!
Sarah Rainbolt assisted with Beach Clean-Up for National Public Lands Day.

Sarah Rainbolt from Cape Coral recently joined the Refuge staff as an environmental education intern working with Ranger Becky Wolff, the Refuge's education specialist. DDWS supports the Refuge internship program by paying living stipends for several interns each year, supplementing staff cutbacks due to federal budget restraints.
Sarah graduated in May 2013 from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., with a degree in environmental READ MORE
  
Rapala Reception & Presentation
Gregg Wollner from Rapala USA with Ralph and Jean Woodring

Thanks to George and Wendy's Seafood Grille for stepping in to make sure the Rapala Lures event could go on this week in spite of the government's shutdown of the Refuge. Thanks also to Budweiser and Friends of the Refuge for providing refreshments.  The event was a wonderful success!
  
  ROSEATE SPOONBILL

 

GREAT EGRET:Ocean's Reach Condominiums, Matzaluna 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:

George & Wendy's Seafood Grille, Good WheelsGrounds by Greenways, Island Events, 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, & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

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 Jess Shelton and Sarah Lathrop