With the last name of Darling, it seems destiny led him to a lifelong love of the environment and wildlife – and to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.
Charles Darling of Broadkill Beach bears the same last name as one of the heroes of the early wildlife movement.
Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling may not be a household name, but anyone worth his or her salt in environmental circles will quickly recognize the name. Born in 1876, the editorial cartoonist not only won two Pulitzer prizes for his work but also was one of the early pioneers for wildlife conservation.
He was the first director of what is now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, started the highly successful Federal Duck Stamp Program and designed the blue goose artwork, which is still the logo for the national refuge system. The national wildlife refuge on Sanibel Island, Fla., is named in his honor.
Not to be outdone by his namesake, Charles Darling is carrying on the last name very well as a dedicated volunteer at Prime Hook near Milton. His wife, Ann, is also an untiring volunteer who, among other volunteer efforts, works in the refuge store.
Unfortunately, the two men with a love for the outdoors are not related. “My mother has checked the lineage, and there is no connection,” Darling said.
It seems he is following another Darling’s example. “My dad was a conservationist, hunter and fisherman. He really appreciated wild areas. I guess I followed in his footsteps,” he said.
Since he became involved as a member of the Friends of Prime Hook group in 1999, he has served as president for four years and amassed well more than 4,200 hours of volunteer service. He was honored with the Governors Outstanding Volunteer Award along with another refuge volunteer, Glenn Garner, and is also the recipient of the prestigious Blue Goose Award.
He is currently involved in helping to complete a walkway project to a new bird-viewing stand under construction in the refuge. It is just one of several building projects he has been involved with over the past seven years.
If there is anything going on at Prime Hook, Darling is involved in some way as a volunteer, spokesman, advocate or photographer.
He and his wife can’t get enough of the place. And even when they aren’t volunteering at Prime Hook, the couple can usually be found vacationing at another refuge or national park.
A visit to one refuge, with a familiar name, set Darling on a course soon after his retirement. He said he was looking for something to do after he retired from Kraft Foods in Dover.
“The Dink Darling Refuge opened our eyes to refuges and how important their protection is,” he said. “We use that as an example of how refuges should be.”
Darling said after visiting the Sanibel Island refuge, he became committed to helping the refuge in his own backyard.
At first, he became so immersed in the activities of the local refuge that he had little time for anything else. He said he had to schedule weekends and vacations around refuge happenings.
Darling has found more of a balance now, but he still is one of the leading volunteers as a member of the Friends of Prime Hook group.
“I will continue to do whatever I can and use whatever talents I have to assist the refuge and encourage other volunteers to share their time and talents,” he said.
Volunteers are even more important as financial restraints impede refuges, including Prime Portrait
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Hook. Prime Hook has been hit with budget cutbacks, including the loss of staff.
“This bothers me and I’m not sure people really understand what is going on here,” Darling said. He said reduction in staff equates to cutbacks in services and programs – and volunteers can only do so much.
“The Friends are wrestling with how to help with this,” he said.
As they look for better ways to assist the place they love, the volunteers will maintain their busy schedule, especially since warm weather is here.
“All refuges are unique, but we realize we have a treasure here – it’s rather special,” Darling said with a smile. “And there is so much that can be done here by volunteers.
“And by the way, are you good with tools?”
With that he looked around for a registration form in hopes he could sign up yet another volunteer.
Contact Ron MacArthur at ronm@capegazette.com
