Sanibel Island Wildlife Series
Charles LeBuff's HOME PAGE
Charles LeBuff — photo courtesy of Lynda Richardson
Welcome to my site and its associated links — please, take time to explore. I hope you find them all useful, perhaps as an introduction to Florida's Sanibel and Captiva Islands . . . the unique barrier islands where I lived for 47 years . . . or as a source for special, quality products and services, or factual information. For example, reviewers of my regional best-selling book, Sanybel Light, say it's the best book available about the human and natural history of Sanibel Island. It's packed full of information about Sanibel and Captiva Islands, the "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, seashell collecting, major hurricanes, "red tide," alligators, sea turtle conservation, the Sanibel Lighthouse, the coming of the first Sanibel Causeway, and how Sanibel was "saved" after we the citizens took Sanibel's future into our own hands, in 1974.
My latest book, J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, published by Arcadia Publishing, is now available nationwide. This book is part of Arcadia's "Images of America" series and is a photographic history of the Refuge, and contains 183 images. You may purchase special autographed/personalized copies by visiting our linked Amber Publishing page.
My 2010 book Everglades Wildlife Barons: The Legendary Piper Brothers and Their Wonder Gardens is a biography about the unique lives of the late Bill and Lester Piper. During the last century these tough men were the premier wildlife personalities in Florida. The book's cover and further information on this title is viewable on the Everglades Wonder Gardens link. Autographed, even personalized copies if desired, may be ordered through the shopping cart available on the Amber Publishing link on this page.
My electronic book on CD-ROM, is an excellent history of Sanibel Island for the person seriously interested in the island's history. The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is a complete book that uses old photographs to help unwind the wonderful history of Sanibel Island and her lighthouse. The CD's content is also detailed on the linked Amber Publishing website
A good selection of used biological, historical, and wildlife books primarily pertaining to Southwest Florida are now offered for sale via our Amber Publishing link, as titles become available.
Two interesting videos are also part of our product line. These are available through the Amber Publishing link. One features a Beach Walk — an ecological and historical event — a live lecture filmed at the Sanibel Lighthouse Point and its beach before the 2004 hurricane, Charley. The other is a presentation about what life was like, and how we lived it, on Sanibel Island before the opening of the original Causeway (1963). This illustrated program is appropriately entitled Sanibel, BC. The inside and outside of the Sanibel Island Lighthouse, the quaint Sanibel ferries, and the unique mailboat are featured during this slide lecture which was filmed before a live audience at "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island in January, 2004. Both of these videos offer information-packed presentations on the ecology and history of Sanibel Island. They are available in DVD format. And, during this introductory period we include shipping costs with the prices for our books and videos.
One link on this page leads to our Signs for Sale site where we offer a variety of wildlife-related and novelty signs. Prices include Priority Mail shipping costs.
Be sure and check out the interesting link — Calusa Indian Art, Artifacts, and Anecdotes. This page features a concise history of the Calusa people and pictures and discusses the replications of the various Calusa weapons and artifacts I created during the time I was haunted to tell Panti's story in my now out of print book, The Calusan. This page also includes an interpretation of the place names I used in The Calusan. Another interesting aspect of The Calusan's story has recently been added to tell how ancient Calusa Indian mounds were ravaged last century by land developers.
A popular addition to this website is the link leading to my Everglades Wonder Gardens site. A fascinating history of this Florida wildlife attraction is presented, through first-person interviews and the eyes and memories of seven men who worked there during the 1950s. Four videos are featured to enhance the presentation, as are many old photographs.
Thanks for stopping by . . . take a good look around . . . come back often.
Cordially,
— Charles LeBuff
My Speaking Schedule
(Open to the public, unless otherwise noted.)
October 20, 2011 — "Ding" Darling Days — 1 p.m. Education Center at J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. This will be the formal public introduction of my new book, J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and will feature an illustrated program on the history of the refuge. My presentation will be followed by a book signing.
December 3, 2011 — 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Joint appearance with Amy Bennett Williams (author of Along the Caloosahatchee River) at Books-A-Million, at the Forum in Fort Myers. I'll be signing J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
December 21, 2011 — 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Book signing (J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge) at MacIntosh Book Shop, Sanibel.
January 10, 2012 — 9:30 a.m. — A PowerPoint-aided presentation combining Sanybel Light and J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers. This is the regular meeting of their volunteers but is open to the public. The program will take place in the The Edison and Ford Museum in The Hall of Inventions.
January 11, 2012 — 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Book signing (J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge) at The Island Book Nook, Sanibel.
January 25, 2012 — 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Book signing (J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge) at the Sanibel Island Book Shop, Sanibel.
February 2, 2012 — 10:00 a.m. — Fort Myers Beach Library; a presentation about my book, J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
February 10, 2012 — 1:00 p.m. — Education Center at J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. An illustrated program featuring the history of J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, titled "How it all started; a history of J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge." The program will be followed by a book signing.
February 23, 2012 — 7:30 p.m. — Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society program, "Looking back at J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge" at the Sanibel Community House. A PowerPoint trip through 75 years of refuge-related island history. Plan to arrive early, seating is limited. Copies of J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge will be available.
October 15, 2012 — "Ding" Darling Days — 1 p.m. Education Center at J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. A PowerPoint presentation: "The Endangered Species of the Refuge: A Historical Overview. My presentation will be followed by a book signing for me to autograph copies of my book, J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
OUR OPERATIONS
Amber Publishing is a small publishing house specializing in the production and distribution of a series of regional books, in both fiction and nonfiction genres. Two unique DVD videos have recently been added to our inventory. Our titles pertain to the wildlife and historical values of Southwest Florida.
Sanibel Sign Services was a manufacturer of signs of all kinds until it ceased operations in 2004. It was the original island sign company and for 46 years it was the only commercial sign shop physically located on Sanibel Island. The company specialized in custom, quality sign craft. The linked page and its images are being retained for historic and nostalgic reasons. A variety of small novelty signs are still offered for sale through our link, Signs for Sale.
Charles LeBuff and Associates is a technical group offering consulting services to coastal engineers, developers, and municipalities for permitting and permit conformity issues regarding sea turtle biology and conservation in Florida.
Sanibel, BC (December 1952) — The ferry, Islander, leaving the Sanibel Island Ferry Landing, bound for Punta Rassa. After May 26, 1963, ferries no longer connected Sanibel Island to the outside world. That day, the opening of the first Sanibel Causeway changed Sanibel and Captiva Islands forever. Read about it in Sanybel Light, and see and hear about it in our Sanibel, BC DVD.
CONTACT INFORMATION
- TELEPHONE
- 239.561.9161
- POSTAL ADDRESS
- 14040 Eagle Ridge Lakes Drive — Apartment 101 — Fort Myers, FL 33912
- ELECTRONIC MAIL
- General Information: AmberPublishing@aol.com