"Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge, FL

Anhinga

Named one of the top ten birding spots in this nation, the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on Sanibel Island, Florida.

Creation of the refuge began in the early 1940's, when "Ding" Darling learned that the State of Florida was nearing agreement to sell 2,200 pristine acres of Sanibel's mangrove wetlands to developers for $0.50/acre. Quickly gathering his allies, Darling arranged for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to lease the threatened land to form the Sanibel Island National Wildlife Refuge. Taken just in the nick of time, this was the first step in protecting forever this crucial wildlife habitat.