A trip to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is an expedition that everyone should take. Our class was lucky enough to be visiting the Refuge when they had another special guest who had come from thousands of miles away. A Great White African Pelican had miraculously made its way to Ding Darling, much to the amazement of all. The presence of this special bird made our trip there even more exciting. I had never been to the Refuge and greatly appreciated the educational introduction the staff presented prior to our touring the facility. They gave us background information on the Refuge, its vegetation and wildlife. We were lucky enough to actually see the Great White African Pelican, in addition to our white and brown pelicans. We also saw anhingas, double crested cormorants, egrets, white ibis and even an alligator. The 6400 acre facility is run by the non-profit organization The Ding Darling Wildlife Society, it provides visitors with a rare pristine glimpse at Florida's natural mangrove/beach habitat while providing education on environmental issues and being an excellent example of a land conservation area.
