Refuge, DDWS to present next lecture in series
From Burmese pythons to fire ants, Brazilian pepper to lionfish, Sanibel author Charles Sobczak will cover them all during his “The Great Florida Invasion — From Pepper to Pythons” presentations.
His free lectures will take place on Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Visitor & Education Center auditorium at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.
Based on information gathered for his three award-winning non-fiction titles, Sobczak’s presentations take an in-depth look at a wide array of non-indigenous species that have invaded Florida over the past 100 years. They also will explore natural migrations, such as the more recent arrival of the African cattle egret and western coyote. While his lectures offer solutions to controlling many of the unwanted visitors, it also clearly demonstrates that some of the unwanted visitors are here to stay.
To date, Sobczak has authored 10 books, including three non-fiction titles, two selected works and five novels. His varied interests have taken his writing from the Fond du Lac Indian reservations outside of Cloquet, Minnesota, to Istanbul, Turkey. Sobczak’s non-fiction work focuses on local and regional flora and fauna in Florida, including “Living Sanibel: A Nature Guide to Sanibel & Captiva.”
A book signing will follow the lecture.
The DDWS is co-hosting the program — part of its annual “Ding” Darling Winter Lecture Series — with the refuge and sponsored by Friends of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society.
The remaining lecture schedule is as follows:
– Feb. 27: Author/photographer Budd Titlow, “Bird Brains: Inside the Minds of our Feathered Friends”
– March 13: Actor Joe Wiegand, “President Teddy Roosevelt Reprised”
Seating is limited on a first-come basis. Early arrivals can check in after 9 a.m. and after noon and obtain an entrance wristband so they can explore the Visitor & Education Center, Wildlife Drive and trails beforehand. Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before the lecture or risk being reassigned.
For more information, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/lecture-series.
The refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel.