"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
October 16, 2014
In This Issue
Holiday Cards
Bird Tracking
Trivia Thursday
Film Series Preview
Family Fun Day
Thank you Sponsors
Resident Volunteers
Educational Videos
Game App
'Ding' Cartoon
Upcoming Events
Quick Links

Holiday Cards Are Here!
Our 2014 Holiday Card Sets are in just in time for "Ding" Darling Days, October 19-25.  
to view the set and purchase information.
Mail-order your cards by calling 239-472-1100 ext. 241.  Remember, all proceeds from purchases in the Refuge Nature Store benefit conservation efforts at the Refuge.
Ding the 
Reddish Egret
Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI) in Gainesville, Florida, introduces Ding, a Reddish Egret the Institute fitted with a solar-powered, GPS-equipped satellite transmitter in June 2014 at the "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.  Click here to follow Ding's blog and travels.
Upcycle! Artists Showcase
This month's recycled art sale in the Refuge Nature Store showcases the work of five Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild artists who make use of re-imagined materials.  Come browse the nature inspired work of Angela Aradia, Lorraine Capps, Toni Ory, Phyllis Rieser, and Rose Young through October 31. 
'Ding' Days
Theme Days
Each day next week brings a new theme to "Ding" Darling Days, October 19-25.  Click here for a complete schedule of activities.

Sunday, October 19 

Monday, October 20
Coastal Birds Day

Tuesday, October 21
Beach & Water Day

Wednesday Oct. 22
Wilderness Day

Thursday, October 23
Calusa Day

Friday, October 24
Trails Day

Saturday, October 25
Conservation Art Day

 

Wildlife Photos

We welcome photographers of all levels to share images with us for "Ding" on the Wing and social media. If you wish your images to be watermarked (embedded with photo credit info), please do so before sending photographs to this email.


Congratulations to Patty Wettstein for being the first reader to correctly identify the White Ibis
 last week!

Answer this trivia question below from our Discover Ding Game App
(download October 19).  Email the correct answer first and win a prize from the Refuge Nature Store. The correct answer and winner will be posted in the next "Ding" on the Wing.

"Unlike the invasive Brazilian Pepper,

I'm a native. While I can spell doom
(though not always) for Cabbage
Palms and other trees, I also create
homes for many others to live. Who am I? "

 

Click HERE to send your answer 

 

Film Series Preview
Year 3 in our Wednesday Bi-Weekly Film Series will air eight riveting films relevant to nature and the environment.  It kicks off on January 7 at 2:30 p.m. with 
Cuba: The Accidental Eden.
 
Family Fun Day
Celebrate "Ding" Darling Day's Silver Anniversary!
Sunday Family Fun Day kicks off the 25th annual "Ding" Darling Days at the Refuge on THIS SUNDAY, October 19, 2014.
 We have planned a FREE day packed with activities for all ages starting with the unveiling of our new
Discover Ding game app, directly following the 10:45 a.m. flag-raising ceremony, compliments of READ MORE

 'Ding' Days Sponsors - THANK YOU







ROSEATE SPOONBILL

 GREAT EGRET
Our Blue Goose and cell phone mascots recently paid a visit to Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry to thank them for their its support of this year's "Ding" Darling Days and to promote the new Discover Ding game app that will debut October 19.  

GREAT BLUE HERON
REDDISH EGRET
SNOWY EGRET
Resident Volunteers
The Refuge's Resident Volunteers program has steadily grown through the past decade.  This year we welcome 14 seasonal volunteers who will work at the Refuge in exchange for an RV spot.  Meet Jack and Patty Wettstein from Millville, New Jersey, who started their fifth year with the Refuge this month.  
You can meet them personally during "Ding" Darling Days week, October 19-25, for which they returned early to help.  Among other duties, they'll lead a FREE "Walk with the Calusa" hike on the Calusa Shell Mound on Calusa Day, Thursday, October 23.

"This is our fourth year presenting the Calusa program, and we enjoy sharing the richness of their history," said Patty, crediting volunteers Ann and Bill Wollschlager for helping cultivate their enthusiasm. 

In the past five years, the Wettsteins have also become involved with various other tours and programs including Wildlife Drive and Bailey Tract tours.  Jack, a former high school biology teacher, is an expert on venomous reptiles and endangered species.  A retired high school computer science teacher, Patty specializes in bike tours and manatees.  Both have completed the three core modules of the Master Naturalist Program - Wetlands, Coastal, and Uplands - through the University of Florida.  They are currently taking their third module of four special topics offered in the Florida Master Naturalist Program.
WGCU Radio Drive also supports "Ding" Darling!
At the invitation of WGCU FM, the local NPR affiliate, the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society is participating in a radio drive to benefit local nonprofits. Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland and DDWS Executive Director Birgie  Miller will be on the air from 8 to 9 a.m.
 Wednesday, October 22, 2014, to talk about our mission. Listen in at 90.1 FM. 

WGCU has offered to help local nonprofits augment our marketing budget by awarding us with free radio promos that we can use to promote our events and mission throughout the following year. Call in anytime during the pledge campaign (October 17-24). Make a pledge of $250 to the radio drive, choosing the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society as your chosen nonprofit. and we will receive eight radio spots  Pledges of $500 earn us 16 spots; $750 earns 24; and so forth. 

 

Your gift will benefit WGCU Public Radio while also providing us with valuable marketing opportunities that we would otherwise not be able to afford. You can make your pledge of support by calling 800-533-9428.  Make sure that you select "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society as the nonprofit you'd like to support with free radio promos.

Educational Videos
The first in a series of short, fun, and educational "Ding" Darling videos is live on YouTube.  Wildlife Sleuths follows Ranger Becky Wolff as she leads students on a mission to find clues to what species of wildlife  preceded their hike at the Refuge.

The topic of our next educational video will be Birding for Dummies. DDWS is currently seeking a $5,000 donation to produce the video, which we will show in the Visitor & Education Center, classes and elsewhere.  Donors will receive credit within the video.  (It could be a nice holiday gift for someone who has everything!)  Please contact Birgie Miller (239-292-0566) for more details.
First in the Nation:  Game App for "Ding" Darling

October 19 - Debut of the new Discover Ding Game App

 

 

Today, we have more ways than ever to access information and connect with people from around the world.  Facts and figures are at our finger tips and there is an app for just about everything.  Technology is here to stay and we are working out a good balance of "screen time and green time". On October 19, be one of the first to download the free Discover Ding Game App which will get people of all ages excited about nature and the outdoors.  

 
Cartoon
In honor of National Wildlife Refuge Week, we give you an early portrait of the "Ding" Darling Refuge. It was known as the Sanibel Wildlife Refuge until, after Darling's death in 1962, islanders petitioned for the new name. It was the first national wildlife refuge to be named after a person, and the name change was highly fitting in light of the Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist's conservation efforts on behalf of Sanibel Island and the entire nation. Click on the image to see it enlarged.
Click here for a full calendar of events & programs
 
  

 25th Annual "Ding" Darling Days - October 19-25, 2014

Happy Hour Holiday Shopping - December 2, 2014
 Society Annual Meeting - December 3, 2014

Friday Lecture Series - January 9-April 10, 2015 

Wednesday Bi-Weekly Film Series - January 7-April 15, 2015

Trailgate Party 2015: Dinner & Puffins � la Maine - February 17, 2015

Birding Tram Tour with Don & Lillian Stokes- February 20, 2015

 Second Annual Upcycle! Art Fest - April 1-2, 2015

Earth Day at the Refuge - April 18, 2015

Fourth Annual "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament 

May 9, 2015

The "eyes" of nature . . . seeing is believing.
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 Associate Director Sarah Lathrop and intern Kasey Robb