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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter 
February 27, 2014
In This Issue
New Board Members
Upcoming Events
Lecture & Film Series
Upcycle! Auction Piece
"Team Russia"
Trailgate Success
Wildlife Sightings
Quick Links

New Board Members
The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Board of Directors has elected four new members to help guide its education and conservation mission.
Thanks and a warm welcome to Sarah Ashton, Mike Baldwin, Vasanta Senerat, and Richard Yanke.   Click HERE to learn more about them.
Sarah Ashton
Mike Baldwin
Vasanta Senerat
Richard Yanke
 
Upcoming Events
Click here for a full calendar of events and programs.

 




Earth Day at the Refuge- April 19

May 2 & 3

 
Friday's at the Refuge
Indigo Trail, which leads to the new Wildlife Education Boardwalk, is open for hiking seven days a week

Even though Wildlife Drive closes every Friday, you can still find plenty to do and see at the Refuge that day. 

Click here to view our new handout that explains why Wildlife Drive closes and what activities you can find at the Refuge and around Sanibel.

 

Farewell to a Dear Friend
Molly Krival served refuge friends groups not only locally but at the National level. She and her husband, Art, who passed away in 2010, worked many years as Refuge volunteers and DDWS board directors. Molly served as Board President for three terms. Click here to read Molly's full obituary.

 

The family has designated "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society and Harry Chapin Food Bank as beneficiaries of memorial donations. Please click here if interested in making a memorial donation to DDWS.

Upcoming Lectures & Film
Dr. Brian Lapointe immersed in his research
TONIGHT! SPECIAL Evening Lecture:
Thursday, February 27- 
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Brian Lapointe Ph. D. "Investigating the Demise of South Florida's Estuaries: The Science of Butrient Polluntion." This lecture is free, but reservations are required by calling 239.292.0566. Only 10 spots left!  Special THANKS to Ocean's Reach Resort for helping to make this lecture possible.
 
March 5: Wolves in Paradise film 2:30 p.m. in the Visitor & Education Center. Admission is free but limited to the first 100 people on a first-come basis.
 
Two new lectures added to the calendar (note: 1 p.m. presentations only):
Thanks to Sanibel Captiva Trust Company for support of our 2014 Lecture Series. 
 
Upcycle! Auction Piece Takes Shape
Award-winning upcycle artist Andrew Corke, a former Sanibel Island resident and studio assistant to Daryl Pottorf on Captiva Island, is the featured artist for our inaugural Upcycle! Art Fest on April 16, 2014 at the Refuge. 
 
Andrew has begun work on the festival's signature auction piece, an "Osprey Sculptire" made from recycled bike tires. Stay tuned for more pictures as the osprey takes shape. 
 
Conservation "Team Russia" Visits
Hosted by Wildlife Without Borders through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a delegation of 11 Russian public lands representatives visited "Ding" Darling on Monday as part of a 12-day tour of top refuge areas in Florida, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.   
Refuge staff toured "Ding" Darling facilities with the Russians and they then experienced a sunset cruise through Tarpon Bay Explorers. The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society treated them to an all-American progressive dinner hosted by Refuge volunteers. Thanks to Mary Lou Schadt, Don and Ann-Marie Wildman, and Mike and Terry Baldwin for giving the Russian visitors an opportunity to see inside the homes of islanders and supporters of conservation.  When people work together toward a common goal around the world, amazing things can happen. 
Trailgate Huge Success!
An exciting bout of bidding on the signature live auction prize ended with this very happy couple taking home an original "Ding" cartoon.
Guests dressed in pink and shelled out the green to support the Refuge at last Friday's Trailgate Party: In the PinkBoth the silent and live auction items were a huge success thanks to all of our generous pink-dressed guests.   A big thanks to everyone who came out to the event to support the Refuge. All proceeds from this event will go to support the conservation, research and education efforts that take place on the Refuge.  
Trailgate best dresssed guests Laurie and Bill Harkey from Carlisle, Pennsylvania
 
Please thank and support our generous Trailgate Party sponsors:
Spoonbill Level: Mark and Gretchen Banks, The Wilbur Smith Law Firm;
 
Another thank you to all our auction donors! 

50% off Framing, Ace Hardware, Adventures in Paradise, Terry Baldwin, Mark & Gretchen Banks, Big Red Q, Billy's Bikes & Rentals, Jaye Boswell, Broadway Palm, Captiva Kayak, Cason Photography Studio, Luc Century, Clyde Butcher Gallery, Disney, Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille, Jerry Edelman, The Dunes Golf, Finnimore's Cycle Shop, Dick Fortune & Sara Lopez, Gramma Dots, Leah Godley, The Green Flash, Green House Coffee, The Grog Shop, Judy Hicks, Island Inn, Island Paws, Island Therapy Center, Jerry's Market, Kathee Jones, Mary Klaus, Lighthouse Cafe Macintosh Books and Paper, Birgie Miller, Lyn Morningstar, The Mucky Duck, Offshore Sailing School, Over Easy Cafe,  Johnna Patterson and Al Romanoski, Myra Roberts, Carol Rothman, The Sandbar, Kandi Sanger, Sangria Grill, Sanibel Bookshop, Sanibel Deli, Sanibel Island Golf ClubSanibel Seashell Industries, Sanybel's Finest, Schnapper's Hots, SeaWorld Orlando/Aquatica, Shell Point Retirement Community, Charlie Sobczak, Jim Sprankle, Patty Sprankle, Suncatcher's Dream, Sweet Melissa's Cafe, Tarpon Bay Explorers, Tommy Dixon Collections, Tween Waters Inn, Vortex Binoculars, Dorothy Wallace, Chelle Koster Walton, Ann-Marie Wildman, Curt Will, Jean and Ralph Woodring 

Wildlife Sightings
Peregrine Falcon Photo  
By: Allen Hoffacker
 
 
Did you know?   
A Peregrine Falcon's stoop can reach speeds up to 200 mpg? A stoop is a method of hunting in which the falcon dives down from high above to catch medium size birds in the air.  
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 Miller, Executive Director

 
 
 "Ding" On the Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton
Designed by Jess Shelton and Intern Sarah Lathrop