"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
November 6, 2014
In This Issue
Job Swap
UPCOMING EVENTS
Year- End Contributions
Grant Extension
UpCycle Artist
Photo Contest Winners
Minority Outreach
Holiday Cards
Thursday Trivia
Thank You
Wildlife Sightings
Quick Links

Wildlife Sleuths
Scat Video
Birding Hotspot
Google 360 Tour


Keep Voting!

One of 20 candidates for USA Today's Best Birdwatching reader's poll, Sanibel Island is currently in fifth place. Vote daily through November 10, 2014, by clicking here

A vote for Sanibel Island is a vote for "Ding." Here's the poll's description of Sanibel birding: "During the winter, J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge becomes a paradise for birdwatchers and photographers who come to see roseate spoonbills, herons, bald eagles, American white pelicans and countless shorebirds, often at amazingly close range."

Fee Free
November 11th

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, in honor of Veteran's Day, Wildlife Drive will be open free to all visitors. It's a good time to come say hello to the white pelicans and other "snowbirds" that are starting to arrive steadily. Photo courtesy of Theresa Baldwin.

Management 
Job Swap
Joyce Palmer atop Lookout Mountain in Colorado.
Joyce Palmer, Refuge Deputy Manager, is spending a month in Lakewood, Colorado, as the software development team leader in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's (FWS) Branch of Communication Technology.  Andrey Andreyev, who normally wears that hat, is taking Palmer's place 
Andrey Andreyev

  Click here for a full calendar of events and programs.

 

Kids Fishing Derby - November 8, 2014


Happy Hour Holiday Shopping 

December 2, 2014


Society Annual Meeting

December 3, 2014


Friday Lecture Series 

January 9-April 10

 

Wednesday Bi-Weekly Film Series 

January 7-April 15


Trailgate Party 2015: Dinner & Puffins 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

 


As 2014 draws to a close, please consider the value of making a year-end donation to the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society to support efforts to protect our wildlife within the Refuge.  Your tax-deductible gift helps support the Refuge in areas such as conservation education, water and wildlife research, environmental scholarships, trails
Teacher Grants Deadline Extended
DDWS will award up to $10,000 in grants this school year.
The deadline for "Ding" Darling teachers conservation grants has been extended to November 17, 2014.  Click here to read more.
 
Upcycle! Artist in Refuge Nature Store
This month's recycled art sale in the Refuge Nature Store showcases the work of Jay Lana, who took second place in last year's Upcycle! Art Fest.  Jay fashions creative lamps from salvaged plumbing, automotive, electrical, and other parts.  
In December, Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild artists return to sell their works made of re-imagined materials.

 

 

FREE Kids Fishing Derby this Saturday
Kids who are able to hold their own fishing pole may participate in the free second annual "Ding" Darling Kids Fishing Derby to be held on the Sanibel Causeway Islands Park (Island A) on Saturday, November 8, 2014.  
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on the causeway, and ages 15 and younger start fishing at 9 a.m. and finish READ MORE

 

 

The event is also made possible by support from the Fort Myers Beach Tarpon Hunters Club; Lexington Fishing Club; Sanibel Island Fishing Club; Trophy Case of Fort Myers and Lee County Parks & Recreation.


First place: Charles Woodrich's Prothonotary Warbler
On October 25, 2014, "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society announced the winners of our 27th annual "Ding" Darling Days Amateur Nature Photography Contest at a special Conservation Art Day presentation in the Refuge Visitor & Education Center, part of the week long "Ding" Darling Days
 
Minority Outreach
Family Fun Day
In keeping with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's mission to draw minority audiences out into nature and the careers of conservation, the Refuge and DDWS have stepped up efforts to bring to the Refuge children and families that might not otherwise visit. This year for "Ding" Darling Days we advertised on 97.7 Latino radio, which brought its van out for Family Fun Day. The result? A lot of happy Hispanic faces enjoying the free activities and all the Refuge has to offer. Click here to read the local paper's article about our efforts.

Holiday Cards

holly-berry-wreath.jpg

Our 2014 Holiday Card Sets are selling quickly, so come in and get yours today.

 Click here  to view the entire set 

One of the six different photos featured on the 2014 Holiday Cards.  
Reddish Egret by Al Hoffacker

Mail-order your cards by calling 239-472-1100 ext. 241

Remember, all proceeds from purchases in the Refuge Nature Store benefit the conservation efforts at the Refuge.

 

Thursday Trivia
Congratulations to Cindy Seaman for being the first reader to correctly identify the Osprey last week!


Answer this trivia question below from our Discover Ding Game App.
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.


"I secrete a toxin that keeps any other plants from growing next to me and from using MY precious water. I'm also related to poison ivy and poison oak, so if you have sensitive skin, keep clear!  My canopy shades out other plants; my shallow roots cause erosion; and wildlife has no interest in using me as shelter!
Because of this, I now take up almost 1 million acres in Florida alone!  Who am I?"

Email us with the correct answer and win a prize from the 
Refuge Nature Store!

Don't forget to download your FREE
 "Discover Ding" Game App

'Ding' Darling Days

Families enjoyed our photo board at Family Fun Day and Conservation Art Day.
 
 

Saturday, October 25, brought our 25th annual celebration of "Ding" Darling Days to a lively end as families poured into the Visitor & Education Center for programs throughout the day. An estimated 5,500 people participated in free activities at the Refuge during the weeklong event, October 19-25. Once again, we thank our generous sponsors for making this event possible every year and Tarpon Bay Explorers for its crucial role in "Ding" Darling Days.

 

To become a sponsor for next year's "Ding" 
Darling Days, please
email or call Wendy Schnapp, 239-470-1877.

 

 'Ding' Days 25th Anniversary Sponsors

Thanks to our generous sponsors who make "Ding" Darling Days happen this year
ROSEATE SPOONBILL

 GREAT EGRET

GREAT BLUE HERON
REDDISH EGRET
SNOWY EGRET
2015 Trailgate Party - Make your Reservation NOW
Click Above to make your reservation

Make plans now to attend the third annual "Ding" Darling Trailgate Party on February 17, 2015, to benefit Refuge research and education.  This year the Wildlife Society takes the trailgating theme to Maine with "Dinner & Puffins".  

Dr. Stephen Kress with one of his beloved Puffins
And because Maine is too chilly for outdoor trailgating this time of year, the trailgate party  will take place  



Recent Sightings & Tides
 
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