The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge was born through the efforts of Ding Darling and his island neighbors from land that was donated by concerned citizens and acquired by the federal government. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge has protected habitat for wildlife since 1945. It was renamed in Jay Norwood Darling’s honor and officially dedicated to him in 1967 as the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Reuge. This pristine land encompasses 8,000 acres of conservation land which is safeguarded to protect endangered and threatened species, and to provide feeding, nesting, and roosting habitats for migratory birds. It is a must see when visiting Sanibel Island.