"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter
                                                                       April 30, 2015
In This Issue
Social Media
New Staff
Junior Duck Stamp
'Ding' Cartoon
Tarpon Tournament
Sightings & Tides
Quick Links
Join Us On Social Media
A recent response to an Instagram picture
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter: Pick your platform and join our thousands of followers in social media.  

Please "LIKE " us on Facebook by searching "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society (you can also "LIKE" the Refuge by  searching for its "Official" page.). 
 
Instagram users can find us at 



On Twitter, our handle is @DingDarlingWS.
Welcome New Refuge Staff
Ken Petrie
Kenneth Petrie joined Refuge staff on April 6, 2015, as administrative support assistant, a shared position with Florida Panther and Loxahatchee NWRs.  He will be based at "Ding" Darling.  A native of Watertown, New York, Ken transferred to the Refuge from the Corp of Engineers in Clewiston, Florida, where he worked as a records technician.  He retired from the U.S. Air Force in May 2001 with 22.5 years of service.  "During my career with the Air Force, I worked in the administrative, heavy equipment, and aircraft maintenance field," Ken said.  "I am happy to become a member of Fish and Wildlife Service.  All of the employees, interns, and volunteers have been a great help.  They have welcomed me with great attitudes and big smiles." 
Junior Duck Stamps 
on Parade
Best of Show winner Mason Theurer, 13, from Celebration K-8 School leads the parade with his Blue-winged Teal.




On April 13, the Santiva Chronicle began its presentation of the top 100 Florida Junior Duck Stamps for 2015.  After a school year of education and creations, this year's Junior Duck Stamps were judged by an expert panel of five at the Refuge on March 26.  Click here to view the "parade" of duck stamps.
 
 'Ding' Gone Fishing
 Cartoon
Refuge namesake Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling was an avid hunter and fisherman - one reason he fought to save the environment.  He often used fishing as an analogy in his Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoons for the Des Moines Register, such as this one titled "Miss Democracy is confidently expecting to land the big prize," circa 1902. Click on the cartoon to see it enlarged.
Register Today! 
Summer Day Camp Deadline May 1


Deadline for the inaugural Nature Explorers Day Camp at the Refuge is May 1, 2015.  Four consecutive week-long day camp sessions will start on June 15, 2015, and run through July 17.  Campers can attend READ MORE 


 

Outdoor Class Experience at 'Ding' Darling

Nature in action: a small American Alligator returns to its kill!
Nature in action: a small American Alligator returns to its kill!

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn"  Benjamin Franklin

 

Register Now for 'Ding' Darling & Doc Ford's 
Tarpon Tourney - 2 spots remain

Deadline to register for the tournament is TODAY, April 30.
Please click here for registration form.  Only 2 spots remain!

Thanks to our 2015 Tarpon Tourney sponsors, below.  

Title Sponsor:

Presenting Sponsor:
 

Platinum Sponsors:
 
 
suncoast
  
 

Gold Sponsors:

 
Captiva Diva
 Raiser's Edge

                                    
Silver Sponsors:
Don & Ann-Marie Wildman
Dr. Glen Gresham

Photo by Volunteer Jim Bennight
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 intern Kasey Robb & Madison Durley