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TripAdvisor Review
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Have you enjoyed a terriffic Refuge visit?
Here's a recent 5-star review: "We have so many wonderful memories from visiting the refuge during our 4 weeks on the island. There is no shortage of wildlife and so much to do." orchid4me2003, February 19, 2015
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Register Now for
Tarpon Tourney
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Last years winning team "Boomers Sooners" took home $10,744.
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"Ding" Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on May 9, 2015. For rules and registration info and to view the 2014 results, click here
With 100% of the entry fees going back to the anglers, the only way the tournament raises money to benefit the "Ding" Darling Refuge, is through sponsorships and donations. To join the following 2015 Sponsors, please call Birgie Miller at 239.292.0566 or clicking HERE to email. Title Sponsor:  Presenting Sponsor: Platinum Sponsors Gold Level Captiva Diva Silver Sponsor Sanibel Oasis/Sanibel Gear Vasanta Senerat, CPA, PA |
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Water Quality
Make a Difference
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The EAA Resevoir Project is an essential element in the restoration of the Everglades and, as a result, will help dramatically reduce the summer flow of contaminated water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and thence the Refuge watershed.
Recent rumblings out of Tallahassee suggest a lack of support for this initiative, in spite of the fact that the Florida electorate overwhelmingly voted in favor of Amendment 1, which makes funding available for critical conservation projects like this.
Please add your personal voice in favor of the reservoir to that of the Society. Timing is of the essence since the Florida legislature only meets in March and April. Click HERE to learn how to be heard
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Photo credit: Refuge Biology Intern
Jen LoDico.
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2015 Lecture Series
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 TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 27 Gary Monroe has taken the lead role in writing about self-taught art in Florida, with a particular interest in the Highwaymen.
He will present two programs about his books
The Highwaymen: Florida's African-American Landscape Painters and his latest, published in 2014, Mary Ann Carroll: First Lady of the Highwaymen, beginning at
Funding for this lecture was also provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Florida Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6: Sarah Adams will speak about the personal life and conservation ethic of her grandfather and America's most famous landscape photographer, the late Ansel Adams,on Friday, March 6, 2015.
 She will present two "Memories of My Grandfather, Ansel Adams" programs about her relationship with the California-born nature photographer READ MORE
Thanks to our 2015 Lecture Series Sponsor:
Lectures begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Seating is on a first-come basis, so plan to arrive early.
Click HERE to view the 2015 Lecture Series Schedule |
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For the fifth consecutive year, celebrity birders Don and Lillian Stokes filled two trams during their annual Wildlife Drive Tram
Tours. The two lead
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An osprey obligingly confronts two bald eagles for super photo ops during the Stokes annual tours. Photo credit: Terry Baldwin.
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separate identification
and photography tours each year to benefit DDWS. Tarpon Bay Explorers also donates the use of two trams for the annual fundraiser. To inquire about the 2016 Stokes Tram Tours, email Birgie Miller or call 239-292-0566.
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Join us in the Visitor & Education Center Auditorium A on Thursday, March 5 and 19 at 12 noon for special "Live Native Butterflies of Southwest Florida" programs.
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Zebra Longwing by Terry Baldwin.
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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.
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Upcycle! Expands Silent Auction
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This year, the Upcycle! Art Fest on April 1 and 2, 2015, at the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center will expand its silent auction to include several pieces by participating artists. Last year in its inaugural year, the festival featured one signature piece, an "Osprey Sculptire" made from recycled bike tires by emerging Fort Myers artist Andrew Corke. "This year, as we grow the second annual Upcycle! Art Fest to two days, we have decided to also offer READ MORE
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Upcycle! artist Andrew Corke is once again donating a special original piece to the silent auction - a chameleon portrait, in which he used recycled corks and bike tires. |
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Volunteer Awards
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Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik and Deputy Refuge Manager Joyce Palmer congratulate Betsy Doonan and Carolyn Johns on their 20-Year Awards. Not pictured: Sherry Myatt.
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"Ding" Darling Refuge and "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) celebrated their annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon on February 20, 2015, at the Sanibel Community House. "There is no way we could conduct the visitor services that we do without the volunteers ," says Ranger Jeff Combs, who oversees
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Bill Rankin accepts his 7,500-hour award.
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Brush of Excellence Award
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| | Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik and DDWS President Doris Hardy with Brush of Excellence Award. |
On February 19, 2015, Sam Koltinsky, filmmaker for America's Darling documentary about the life of Jay "Ding" Darling, presented the Refuge and the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society with a Brush of Excellence Award. Sam is awarding framed paintbrushes used by artist and political cartoonist Darling to deserving organizations nationwide that demonstrate a commitment, as did "Ding," to stewardship of the land and culture. He made the presentations, also with awards to SCCF and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, at the historic fish house on Captiva Island that Darling used as a studio during visits. DDWS made possible nearly $80,000 in funding for America's Darling - the film's biggest supporter.
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| Upcoming Film Showing | |
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4:
Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?. The third annual "Ding" Darling Wednesday Film Series continues its bi-weekly showing with this documentary that takes us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of 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 Bi-Weekly Film Series Sponsor:
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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,
Designed by Sarah Lathrop and interns Kasey Robb and Madison Durley
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