"Ding" Darling lecture series highlights living Florida

The 10-week "Ding" Darling Bookstore Lecture Series begins Thursday, Jan. 22. Highlights this season include two new-in-2009 books: "Hiking the Florida Trail" by Johnny Molloy and "An Everglades Providence" by Jack Davis. Popular author and editor of "Bird Watcher's Digest," Bill Thompson III, is also on the slate.

As of press time, the bookstore released the following schedule. Visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org for lecture updates or call 472-1100, ext. 241.

. Jan. 22 - "Hiking the Florida Trail" by Johnny Molloy

. Jan. 29 - "Florida's Living Beaches" by Blair & Dawn Witherington

. Feb. 5 - Sanibel Island History, the Cultural Heritage Center

. Feb. 12 - Larry Richardson, Swallow-tailed Kites

. Feb. 19 - "Young Birder's Guide to Birds" by Bill Thompson III

. Feb. 26 - "An Everglades Providence" by Jack Davis

. March 5 - "Snorkeling Florida" by Brad Bertelli

. March 12 - "The Refuge Past, Present and Future," Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik

. March 19 - Rick Bonney, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

. March 26 - "Paving Paradise" by Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite

All lectures begin at 1 p.m. in the Refuge Education Center Auditorium. Admission is free to the events, which are sponsored by the "Ding" Darling

Wildlife Society. Seating is limited and available on a firstcome basis.

The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society is a non-profit, friendsof the-refuge organization that supports the Education Center, "Ding" Darling Days and other educational programs at

the refuge.

To join the society and become a friend of the refuge, stop in at the Refuge Education Center or visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org.