Kayaking J.N."Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge

Sanibel offers many delights. Beaches abound and shelling is world famous. For a real treat, find a kayak to use to explore around the many mangroves, bays and quiet shorelines. There seems a limitless opportunity on Sanibel to explore quiet retreats where you can observe nature and its secrets.

One of our favorite places to kayak is Tarpon bay and the waters around the J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge. There are two places where it is easy to launch a kayak from wildlife drive. From there, you can paddle secluded bays and mangroves.

Birds are usually abundant in the refuge. There are many species that live there and others that migrate through the refuge during the year. It can be fun to observe what hides in the quiet areas, secluded from wildlife drive. If you keep conversation to a minimum and listen for bird calls you might even spot a rare bird...the mangrove cuckoo.

Mangrove Cuckoo

It is also possible to spot creatures other then the birds that call the mangrove marshes home. For instance there is  the little mangrove crab, one of only two crustaceans that climb trees as a defense mechanism.

Mangrove Salt Marsh Water Snake

Another critter to hide among the limbs of the mangrove is the Mangrove Salt Water Marsh Snake. It is a non-venomous snake not found outside of Florida.

Green Heron

White Egret in Breeding Plumage by Joe Jennelle

Kayaking at low tide in the refuge provides the best opportunity to spot wading birds and the springtime show of breeding plumage can be a magnificent sight. Use binoculars to get a better view. Document your sightings by taking a picture so bring along that camera. And when you return home there are an abundance of sites online that can help you identify what you have seen. 

Birding is a sure way to add to the enjoyment of the refuge. Keep a list of the birds you've seen and share them with others on ebird.org. A very useful app for your phone is the Merlin Bird Id app which is free from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. With this little app, you can enter size, color, and location. The app will give you images of possible birds from which to id the sighting. 

Little Blue Heron in His Best Colors!

We also belong to a kayak team in Ding Darling called The Monofilament Busters.

Monofilament Busters

Every Friday, teams of volunteers take to the waters of J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel to remove the nearly invisible monofilament fishing line that can be deadly to birds and marine life.   A steady crew of six volunteers hit the kayaks weekly. And on a single day, here’s everything hauled in by the Refuge Teams:

monofilament line
19 hooks
8 lead weights
12 non-lead weights
2 bobbers
7 jigheads/stump jumpers
1 fly
5 lures
1 spoon

Removing these hazards is important to the refuge and other areas as fishing line and hooks are dangers lurking to trap unsuspecting wildlife. It is a tragedy waiting to happen and there is nothing more distressing than to spot a dead bird trapped by fishing line or impaled with hooks from a fishing lure.

Entangled in Monofilament-Spoonbill and Egret

Here is one last important note. Although kayaking in the refuge is a wonderful experience, it is a wilderness area and possible to get lost.  So it is important to pay close attention to your surrounding as the streams between the mangroves twist and turn. They  can confuse even the most experienced kayaker. A GPS makes a lot of sense for navigating the waterways. A good bug repellent to protect from the occasional mosquito and the nefarious "no see 'um" is also a good idea. Sun protection in the form of a good hat and sunscreen will make for a more enjoyable experience too.

So take out that kayak and discover hidden treasures in the waterways of the J.N."Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge. You won't be disappointed.