"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
February 12, 2015
In This Issue
High School Photo Contest
Outreach - Water
Wildlife Sightings
"Ding" Cartoon
Film Series
Butterflies Program
Trailgate
Tarpon Tourney
UpCycle!
Theodore Cross High School Photo Contest Deadline!
The deadline for the second annual "Ding" Darling
Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest is February 25, 2015. Local high school students have the opportunity to win prizes
prizes such as

 

"Waterbirds" is a book by Theodore Cross which features amazing photographs of waterbirds from around the world
First prize in the contest is a Canon camera package with two lenses and a carrying case plus a class field trip and more.

 


 

Quick Links
Make a Difference
Act today to keep refuge water clean and accessible.

Take two minutes to support issues that affect your Refuge, community, and economy. The time is now to address the responsible use of Amendment 1 funds and the federal government's financial support of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Click here to learn how to be heard. 
Responsible Birding

Don't intentionally ruffle any feathers when viewing and photographing Refuge wildlife.

The Fort Myers News-Press covered the recent rash of unethical birding practices at the Refuge this week. Click here to read the article.

 

Always remember: Wildlife comes first at the Refuge. Observe and photograph birds and other wildlife responsibly.

Upcycle! Art Fest Artists

 

A fish wall hanging of recycled tin by Bradenton, Florida, artist Kevin Webb

 

The 2015 Upcycle! Art Fest jury committee has approved more than 20 artists to participate in the second annual festival on April 1 and 2, 2015, at the Refuge Visitor & Education Center. 

 

Upcycled jewelry by Kathleen Jones from Sanibel Island

 

Admission to the two-day event -- which includes art exhibits and sales, a silent auction on participating artists' works, Make-and-Take recycled art projects, environmental exhibitors, and nature films - is FREE
Click the Upcycle! logo below to learn more and view our Gallery of Works. 


CLICK HERE for a calendar of events
Week Ending Feb. 10


Cuddle up to your loved ones this Valentine's Day!
Photo by Carol Rothman


Lecture Series
TOMORROW - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13
 
Longtime winter residents of Sanibel Island, nationally acclaimed bird  authors and TV personalities, Don & Lillian Stokes, will present two "Beautiful Birds of Sanibel"  programs followed by book signings
THANK YOU to our 2015 Lecture Series Sponsor:
 

Click here to view the 2015 Lecture Series schedule.
The Final "Ding" Cartoon
Today, February 12th, is the 53rd Anniversary of Jay N. "Ding" Darling's death in 1962. "Ding," the namesake of our Refuge and a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist, penned this cartoon to announce his own death in the Des Moines Register. It features many of his greatest works, including the U.S. Refuge System's blue goose logo. "Ding"headed the U.S. Biological Survey, the forerunner to the Fish & Wildlife Service, for 18 months, during which time he introduced the Duck Stamp Act of 1934. He also designed the very first duck stamp.  Click on the cartoon above to see it enlarged
 

 

Film Series: Sharkwater
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
The third annual "Ding" Darling Wednesday Film Series continues its bi-weekly showings with Sharkwater: The Truth Will SurfaceIn this true-life adventure, biologist and filmmaker Rob Stewart brings us closer to sharks than ever before. Driven by a passion fed from lifelong fascination with sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and READ MORE.  

The film begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Visitor & Education Center. Seating is on a first-come basis, so plan to arrive early. 
Click here to view the 2015 Film Series schedule.

Thank you to our 2015 Film Series Sponsor:

 

FREE - Butterflies Program
February 19
Join us in the Visitor & Education Center

Auditorium A on Thursday, February 19 at 12 noon for a special Live Native Butterflies of Southwest Florida program.


Speakers Gary and Alice Lavimoniere, volunteers at the Refuge and Butterfly Estates in Fort Myers, will follow a short PowerPoint presentation with on-going interpretation until 1 p.m., featuring five live native butterfly species, host plants, and live caterpillars and chrysalides. Admission is free
The program will repeat on Thursday, March 5 and 19.
Pre-Auction Bids
Trailgate 2015
"Dinner & Puffins in Maine" has sold out.

You can, however, still place pre-auction bids




Don Stokes on Wildlife Drive
to support the Refuge and win fabulous items. This year's headlining live auction items include carvings by master bird sculptor Jim Sprankle, Obid on a one-week birding camp on Hog Island in Maine.

"Sprankle Feather" carving by master wood sculptor Jim Sprankle



Celebrity birders Don and Lillian Stokes have donated a 
private Refuge Birding Tour.





To place a pre-auction bid on these and other items, call Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566. To view images of these and other live and silent auction items, please click here.
Trailgate 2015: Sponsors
Thanks to our generous Trailgate sponsors!

Champion Sponsors
 Mark & Gretchen Banks, Peter & Paula Bentinck-Smith, Wayne & Linda Boyd, John & Kathy  McCabe
 



Protector Level
 Mike & Terry Baldwin, Jay & Cindy Brown, Amanda Cross, Don & Ann-Marie Wildman, Darlene & Bob Duvin, Shaker Investments, Sarah Ashton, Realtor Royal Shell & Jim Metzler,



Defender Level
Big Red Q Quickprint, Tim & Suzanne Devitt, Melissa & Tom Gauntlett, Half-crackerphoto.com, John Grey Painting, Suncatcher's Dream


Thanks to all our wonderful supporters who donated auction items: 

Authentic Maine Lobster Bakes, Mark and Gretchen Banks, Barbara's Cereal, Beach Pies, Paula and Peter Bentinck-Smith, Cheryl Black, Blue Coyote, Cedar Chest, Luc Century, Cip's Place, Zoe Cohen, Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille, Jerry Edelman, Fresh Taqueria, George and Wendy's Seafood Grille, Doris Hardy, Judy Hicks, Al Hoffacker, Hog Island Audubon Camp, Island Paws, Island Therapy Center, Jacaranda, Jerry's of Sanibel, Stephen Kress, Sarah Lathrop, Laughing Pelican, Lazy Flamingo, Lighthouse Caf�, John McCabe, John MacLennan, Birgie Miller, Over Easy Caf�, Pinocchio's Italian Ice Cream, Sandbar Restaurant, Sanibel Day Spa, Sanibel Grill, Sanibel Seashell Industries, Sanibel Oasis/East End Deli, Sanibel Sprout, Sanibel University, Jim Sprankle, Don and Lillian Stokes, Suncoast Beverages, Sweet Melissa's Cafe, Tarpon Bay Explorers, The Timbers, Traders Caf�, Vera Bradley Bags, Vortex Optics, Wilford and Lee, Yolo
Register Now for Tarpon Tourney
Click here to register now for the fourth annual
"Ding" Darling & Doc Ford Tarpon Tournament on May 9, 2015. For rules and registration info and to the 2014 results, click here 
 
Needed: For Upcycle! Art Fest
One of the projects for this

year's Upcycle! Make-and-Take tables is creatures such as bunnies, octopi, and possibly manatees made out of recycled socks. We will also be making the T-shirts bags again this year. Please see the list of items below we need for the projects and email us if you have donations. Or drop them off to the Visitor & Education Center reception desk. Thanks for your help! 

         Clean, new or gently used socks of any color

         Clean, new or gently used T-shirts

         Good fabric scissors

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 Sarah Lathrop and interns Kasey Robb and Madison Durley