Birding tram, ranger tours to highlight opening of ‘Ding’ Days
The “Let’s Get Outside Day” will kick off this year’s weekend-long “Ding” Darling Days on Oct. 12 at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.
A free Bunche Beach birding tram will depart from the refuge at 8 a.m. to experience low tide at the active birding park across the causeway. The three-hour tour is an annual highlight of “Ding” Days and spaces are limited. For reservations, contact Tarpon Bay Explorers in advance at 239-472-8900.
The tour is one of a number of special activities scheduled for the day. Wildlife Drive is normally closed on Fridays, but the refuge is offering free admission to cyclists and hikers from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Visitors can also enjoy five special, discounted tram tours. Costs are $9.75 for adults and $6 for children; reservations are recommended. Private vehicles will not be allowed on the drive that day.
The tram tours will take place at n 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
At 9 a.m., conservation educator Sara Hallas will lead a free Beach Walk at Perry Tract, adjacent to Gulfside City Park; city parking fees will apply. Other tours include a 9:30 a.m. free Refuge Birds and Wildlife Tour Caravan with Ranger Jeff Combs, a 10 a.m. free bike tour of Wildlife Drive with Ranger Toni Westland and a 1 p.m. free Hike and Storytime at the Wildlife Education Boardwalk with Ranger Monica Scroggin.
There will also be Free Animal Olympics Games at the Bailey Tract from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At 1 p.m., a free showing of the Animal Planet’s film “Million Dollar Duck” will take place in the Visitor and Education Center. Winner of the coveted Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature and the Jury Award for Documentary Feature at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival, the film follows artists through the trials and tribulations of competing in the “Olympics of wildlife art” and the prospect of earning a million dollars as a result of winning the annual contest. The refuge’s namesake, Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, launched the federal duck stamp program in 1934.
TBE will offer other discounted kayak and boat tours throughout the day, including:
– 8:30 to 10 a.m.: 25 percent off Breakfast Nature and Sea Life Cruise
– 10 a.m. to noon: 25 percent off Low Tide Paddling Tour
– 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: 25 percent off Sea Life and Nature Cruise
– 1 to 3 p.m.: 25 percent off Commodore Creek Paddle
– 1:30 to 3 p.m.: 25 percent off Sea Life and Nature Cruise
– 5 to 7 p.m.: 25 percent off Sunset Rookery Kayak Tour (experience necessary)
– 5 to 7 p.m.: 25 percent off Evening Sea Life and Nature Cruise
For reservations, call 239-472-8900 or visit www.tarponbayexplorers.com.
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge presents the annual “Ding” Darling Days with support from TBE, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other private and business partners.
The businesses and individuals supporting this year’s “Ding” Darling Days include:
– Roseate spoonbill sponsors: Doc’s Ford Sanibel Rum Bar and Grille
– Great egret sponsors: Wayne and Linda Boyd, and Jim and Patty Sprankle
– Great blue heron sponsors: Bailey’s General Store, Mike and Terry Baldwin, Bank of the Islands, Island Sun, Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts, Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club, Sanibel Moorings and Sunny Day Guide
– Reddish egret sponsors: Sarah Ashton – Realtor, RE/MAX of the Islands, Casa Ybel Resort, Chicago Midwest Claims, Jerry Edelman and Maryanne Daly, The Gresham Family, Jensen’s on the Gulf and Marina and Cottages, Tiffani Kaliko and John Silvia, Mitchell’s Sand Castles, Palm Printing, Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club, George and Wendy Schnapp, and Winston and Barbara Spurgeon
– Snowy egret sponsors: Ambu Yoga, Anisa Stewart Jewelry, Colony Inn, Bob and Kemba DeGroot, John and Anette Gritti, Dave Horton, Island Therapy Center, Panther Printing, Jim and Anne Scott, Santiva Chronicle and Nancy Tome
For more information, visit online at www.dingdarlingdays.com.