Final ‘Ding’ series lecture unveils duck touch-screen
 
Apr. 6 promises to be “Just Ducky” at “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge as the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) wraps up its 2012 lecture series with the 10 a.m. unveiling of a new Duck Touch Screen computer at the Sprankle Duck Decoy Exhibit in the Refuge Education Center.
 
The exhibit, which debuted last year, displays 47 wooden duck decoys carved by renowned bird sculptor and past DDWS president Jim Sprankle.
 
“To enhance the educational value of Jim’s beautiful collection, we are unveiling an interactive computer station that will tell visitors more about each species of duck in the exhibitas well as a number of additional features,” said Toni Westland, supervisory refuge ranger. “When installed, it will have a bunch of cool features such as duck calls, flyway zones, a list of all the nation’s refuges by state, information on the junior duck stamp competition, and the history of the national duck stamp contest.”
 
Westland and Sprankle will be speaking about ducks and duck-carving at two lectures, which take place after the 10 a.m. unveiling and again at 1 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 6, 2012.
 
“We’re even having a duck-call identification contest, and people can win prizes!” said Westland.
 
Admission is free to the event, which is sponsored by The Sanctuary Golf Club of Sanibel Island and DDWS, as part of its 11-week Friday Afternoon Lecture Series.
 
Seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.
 
As usual, Wildlife Drive is closed on Friday, but visitors are welcome to enjoy the free Education Center and recreational opportunities at Tarpon Bay Explorers, the refuge’s official concessionaire located at its Tarpon Bay Recreation Area.
 
For more information on the lecture series, call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or log on to www.dingdarlingsociety.org.