(birds chirping, ducks quacking)
Today I'm coming to you from sunny Florida
at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
on the small island of Sanibel.
(music playing)
Hi, everyone.
Welcome to the US Fish and Wildlife Services Conservation
Connect.
My name is Chelsea McKinney, your host
as we checkout cool conservation careers, fascinating wildlife,
and the latest technology that conservation professionals use
to study and observe all sorts of animals.
Today I'm coming to you from sunny Florida
at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
on the small island of Sanibel.
This refuge is part of the largest mangrove ecosystem
in the entire United States.
Mangroves are special kinds of trees that grow
in shallow saltwater areas.
This refuge's mangrove areas are important habitat for wildlife.
Ding Darling is especially famous for its bird life.
This refuge provides important habitat
to over 245 different kinds of birds.
It's especially valuable to those birds that migrate
to South and Central America.
It's one of the first chances those birds have
to rest after crossing the Gulf of Mexico on their long return
flight every spring.
However, today we're going to be looking at wading birds
that stay here year-round.
And here to tell us more about the birding at Ding Darling,
we're going to have Toni Westland, a refuge ranger.
(music playing)
Toni, thank you so much for welcoming us
to your beautiful refuge today.
And I'm wondering, what exactly is a refuge ranger,
and what is it that you do here at Ding Darling?
Well, I definitely have the best job in the world.
Every day I come to work it is very different.
But my primary job is to educate the public, focusing mostly
on school kids, about the environment and the importance
of our wildlife.
And how did you get interested in a conservation career
with the US Fish and Wildlife Service?
I grew up hunting and fishing in Wisconsin,
and knew that I always wanted to work outdoors.
So I got a degree in environmental science
and environmental education and found my passion out
here with the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Awesome.
(music playing)
Now, Toni, I know Ding Darling is known for its wading birds.
What exactly is a wading bird?
So it's a tall bird that lives in the water.
It feeds in the estuary and the ecosystem
we have here at Ding Darling.
The one we're known for that most people come to see
is the Roseate Spoonbill.
It's a beautiful bird.
Isn't it beautiful?
This pink bird many people think is a flamingo.
Because people come to Florida and what
do they see but flamingos.
But actually, the native pink bird is the Roseate Spoonbill.
And it has a spoon shaped bill, puts it in the water,
shifts its head back and forth, sifting through and feeding
on small crustaceans and fish.
When they're born, they're a pale white
and they actually get pinker with age.
And then when they're three years or older,
they get a dark crimson stripe and they're
ready then to make little Spoonbills.
That's a very appropriate name.
I like that a lot.
(music playing)
Now, what kinds of technology do you have here at Ding Darling
to help educate the public about the refuge?
We know that people are using smartphones and technology,
and we want them to get out in nature.
So why not incorporate those two things together?
So here at Ding Darling we had the first ever iNature Trail,
where people can take their smartphones, download an app,
scan QR codes, and get a ranger led tour.
Besides that, we're debuting a new phone app.
It's actually a game app where you can compete against people
alongside with you, answering questions about wildlife.
And it also has a component where you can
take pictures and share them.
(music playing)
Before leaving the refuge, I wanted
to see the Roseate Spoonbills for myself.
My picture taking seemed to ruffle this bird's feathers.
(music playing)
The Roseate Spoonbill's color really stands out in the wild.
The pink color comes from the invertebrates that they eat.
As they flew over, I was in awe of their size and grace.
(music playing)
Just like Toni had said, they really
do sweep their heads side to side to feed.
(music playing)
After feeding, the birds went to the beach to rest.
(music playing)
I will long remember this beautiful afternoon
watching these amazing birds.
(music playing)
What can we and the folks watching
do to help protect wading birds?
Like anything and all wildlife, they need our help,
and so clean water is number one.
Not wasting our water, working hard
to get people to help save water in whatever ways,
and teaching our youth and our children
how important water is.
That will have a direct benefit on all wildlife.
Thank you so much, Toni, for the sneak peek of all
that Ding Darling has to offer.
Thanks for coming.
How awesome is it that conservationists
can use the latest technology to help you enjoy your nation's
bountiful wildlife?
I hope you all are having as beautiful a day as we are.
Make sure to get outside and enjoy
the wildlife in your area.
We'll see you guys next time on the US Fish and Wildlife
Services Conservation Connect.
(music playing)