Florida beachcombing lecture at Ding Darling

Blair and Dawn Witherington combed Florida's 1,200 miles of coastline to compile their comprehensive guide to all things alive at the beach.

"Florida's Living Beaches: A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber" will be the focus for their special lecture starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at the Ding Darling Education Center.

Professional naturalists, the Witheringtons overlap their biological research and graphic-scientific design experience to create an illustrated compendium of shore life. They have also written "Florida's Seashells: A Beachcomber's Guide.

A book-signing will follow the lecture.

Admission is free to the event, which is sponsored by the Ding Darling Wildlife Society, the refuge's non-profit, as part of its 12-week Thursday afternoon lecture series. Seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.

For more information, or to become a friend of the refuge, call 472-1100 ext. 241 or log on to www.dingdarlingsociety. org.