December 11, 2021

SANIBEL ISLAND

J.N. “DING” DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE / BOWMAN’S BEACH

Sanibel, FL 33957

“The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located in southwestern Florida, on Sanibel Island in the Gulf of Mexico.”  Wikipedia

Recommended, both by an internet search of things to do in the Ft. Myers area and by friends, the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve provided me an opportunity to see and photograph several different kinds of shore birds. 

I will admit the beginning of my visit had me questioning everyone’s recommendations.  Having done a little research I decided to start by walking the Indigo Trail which starts at the visitors center.  About a quarter mile into the trail there was an observation deck where I got to see an Anhinga and a White Heron along with some ducks.  I thought this was going to be a great walk and proceeded on.  The trail is flanked on each side by Mangrove Trees, which are very thick and provide great camouflage for the birds and other wildlife.  About a mile down the trail I was getting a little discouraged as all I had seen was Mangrove trees.  A refuge volunteer on a bike stopped and asked how far I planned on walking, and then told me there weren’t many birds, in fact he said there were only two and it would be a long walk before I would get to them.  I decided at that point to turn around and go back to the truck and drive the Wildlife Drive through the park, which I was planning on doing anyway.  Trying to be an optimist I was glad that I got in a 2.5-mile walk.

The Wildlife Drive proved to be a little more productive.  This four-mile, one-way road allows for vehicles to pull over and park when wildlife is spotted.  There were three places I stopped to see all kinds of shore birds.  I saw several different kinds of herons, terns, egrets, cormorants, anhinga, pelicans, and birds I couldn’t identify.  At a couple of the stops there was water on both sides of the road with bridge covered channels connecting the two sides.  It was obvious by the strength of the water flow that the tide was going out.  The refuge’s website had said to visit during low tide, but it was difficult to figure out what time of day that would be.  And so, I had arrived in the middle of high and low tide, which I have determined is not when one wants to visit.

After completing the four-mile drive I stopped to check out Bowman’s Beach Park.  When I had had enough of the sand and sun (which didn’t take long as even with 70 spf suntan lotion on I was worried about getting burned) I got in my truck and headed back to the campground.  However, when I passed the entrance to the reserve, I decided I had time to drive the Wildlife Drive again to see if any more birds had shown up since it was now near low tide.  I’m really glad that I did as there the low tide had attracted many more birds.  I am glad I followed my friends’ recommendations and spent the afternoon at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Side note:  Yes, I know that Ding Darling was from Iowa.  I remember being taught about him in elementary school.