Drive Like Reddish Egrets Live Here

Introducing, Ding 
ARCI introduces Ding, a Reddish Egret fitted with a solar-powered, GPS-equipped satellite transmitter on 20 June 2014 at the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, Florida. 

Movements of Ding from 20 June 2014 to 20 September 2014.

Reddish Egrets are one of two wading bird species that have not recovered from the population crash associated with the plume-hunting industry of the early 1900's.  ARCI has been studying Reddish Egrets for over five years, beginning with our previous work in the Florida Keys, one of the historic strongholds of the Florida population. We are using satellite telemetry to monitor seasonal movements and to map and describe the distinctive physical features of this species’ foraging habitat, which is relatively rare in Florida. 

Ding is outfitted with a solar-powered, GPS satellite transmitter on June 20th, 2014 at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge with ARCI's Brehan Furfey.

Zeroing In, Finding Patterns
Ding's transmitter dispatches data to orbiting satellites, granting us the opportunity to study his movements every day. Some highlights we have seen include:

• Two days after being tagged, Ding flew nearly 4 miles east to a large wading bird nesting colony in Tarpon Bay, where he stayed just one day. 
• Ding has favorite roosting and foraging locations along the Refuge’s Wildlife Drive, which were quite predictable for the first two months of tracking. However, on 19 August, Ding began making 5-mile day trips north to the southwest coast of Pine Island. 
• Ding's movements are tide dependent; as the tide recedes, it opens up shallow foraging areas. 

You too, can follow Ding. Link through our website to see the last 14 days of Ding's movements: http://arcinst.org/arci-tracking-studies

Ding's movements are tide dependent. Reddish Egrets take advantage of receding tides to forage in shallow areas. 

The Refuge and Beyond 
ARCI is collaborating with Florida Audubon and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the next two years to determine the best methods for long-term monitoring of Florida's Reddish Egrets. With the help of birds like Ding, we will uncover knowledge needed to reverse the Reddish Egret's steadily declining trend in Florida. 

When you're driving along Wildlife Drive, don't forget to watch out for Ding! 

Special Thanks
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (J. N. Ding Darling NWR, Region for Migratory Birds), Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society, International Osprey Foundation, Jim Griffith, and Dr. Bart Ballard (Texas A & M University) for financial and in-kind support; and Mark Westall for assistance in the field.