www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Marsh Musings Fall 2014 Edition Volume 0314

Philadelphia Area Youth Explore Conservation Careers Working with

John Heinz NWR and the Eastwick Community

Newsletter of Friends of Heinz Refuge at Tinicum

tion’s (SCA) Philadelphia

Office for Community Pro-

grams. The Refuge and SCA

partner to build the next gen-

eration of conservation lead-

ers and inspire lifelong envi-

ronmental stewardship by

engaging young people in

hands-on service to the land

through service opportunities,

outdoor skills, and leadership

training.

This year the SCA Summer

Community Crews provided

over 40 students the opportunity to

complete trail maintenance and site

restoration projects throughout

Philadelphia and Camden as well as,

learn about the conservation careers

through field trips. Field trips in-

cluded visits to the Lincoln Univer-

sity Biology Department and Phila-

delphia Zoo. All students presented

their final projects on August 7th. To

view the final project for the crew

stationed at John Heinz NWR, please

visit http://youtu.be/rfHWz5e8YSo.

The main project of the crew

stationed at John Heinz

NWR was planting native

wildflowers and trees to re-

store the habitat in the park-

ing lot area. Crew leader,

Chuck Lafferty, stated “It

was inspiring to see such a

diverse group of youth work

together to learn about con-

servation and accomplish so

much in a short amount of

time.”

New this year was the crew work-

ing in the Eastwick community.

Working together with John Heinz

NWR and the Eastwick Friends and

Neighbors Coalition (EFNC), this

crew completed several community

clean-ups at local sites such as Pep-

per Middle School. Under the leader-

ship of EFNC President, Terry Wil-

liams, this crew also coordinated

with the City of Philadelphia to coor-

dinate trash pick-up and the recy-

cling of an abandoned boat. This

new crew is a great example of how

the US Fish and Wildlife Service is

engaging communities in order to

encourage and nurture an apprecia-

tion of wildlife conservation to new

audiences.

To learn more about opportunities

for youth with the FWS and Student

Conservation Association, please

visit: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/

youth/ and http://thesca.org/.

Trail building, habitat restoration,

and community clean-up projects are

not your typical summer jobs for

students living in the urban setting of

Philadelphia. If you were to visit

John Heinz NWR and the Eastwick

community this summer, you would

have noticed crews of high school

students working together to com-

plete a variety of conservation and

community improvement projects.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) is committed to conserv-

ing natural resources, and believes

that one of the key components to

conservation is working with the

next generation of land and wildlife

stewards. The USFWS engages and

works with youth through interpreta-

tion, education, and employment on

and around Service field offices to

provide enriching resume building

job opportunities for young people.

Since 2009, John Heinz National

Wildlife Refuge has been the base of

The Student Conservation Associa-

Heinz SCA Crew ~ FWS File Photo

Eastwick SCA Crew ~ FWS File Photo

2

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

A quarterly publication of Friends of

Heinz Refuge at Tinicum.

Board of Directors Ron Miller, President

Lynn Roman, Acting Secretary

Ned Levi, Treasurer

Annemarie Rapp, Store Manager

Jesse Smith, Webmaster

Jean Diehl, Newsletter Editor

Denis Brennan

Thomas Koger

Chuck Lafferty

Kay Meng

Stanley Rapp

Our Mission

Friends of Heinz Refuge is a non-profit charitable organization work-ing in partnership with John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to connect people with nature and promote a culture of environmental steward-ship through education, outreach, service and nature-based recreation for the conservation of wildlife & habitat.

8601 Lindbergh Boulevard

Philadelphia, PA 19153

info@FriendsofHeinzRefuge.org www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org

Facebook/HeinzRefuge

Marsh Musings

FOHR BOARD MEETINGS: The public is always welcome to attend Board Meetings, which are held the 4th Tuesday of every month, 6:30 pm, in the Visitor Center. Please call ahead and let us know you’re attending: 215-365-3118.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service is committed to

achieving an inclusive

workforce by ensuring that

our managers, supervisors,

and employees represent

the rich cultural heritage of

America.

Highlighting “Summer Faculty Fellowship

Program” at Heinz Refuge

In order to achieve the goal of cul-

tural diversity, the Service conducts

the Summer Faculty Fellowship Pro-

gram. This Program provides oppor-

tunities for professors to work at

Service facilities in exchange for

completing and submitting campus

conservation career awareness

project plans, which are expected to

include activities such as assisting

the Service with student recruitment

and mentoring, looking for ways to

adjust courses in their school to

reflect emerging trends in conserva-

tion biology and landscape conserva-

tion planning, and assisting the

Service with research.

This year, Dr. Karen Baskerville,

an Associate Professor and Chair of

Biology at Lincoln University of

Pennsylvania participated in the

Summer Faculty Fel lowship

Program at John Heinz National

Wildlife Refuge. At Lincoln, she

teaches neuroscience, anatomy and

physiology, histology, animal

systems, and pharmacology. During

her time at John Heinz National

Wildlife Refuge, Dr. Baskerville

built relationships with the SCA

crew members from diverse back-

grounds and served as a mentor to

them, guiding them in their educa-

tional pursuits and career aspirations.

Dr. Baskerville worked with the

crews to develop personal statements

for college applications, as well as

organized a field trip to Lincoln

University so the students working

on the refuge could learn about ma-

joring in biology at college. As Dr.

Baskerville returns to her campus

this fall, she plans to complete a con-

servation awareness project plan at

Lincoln University. Not only does

she plan to incorporate modules on

conservation biology in her Plant

and Animal Systems course in the

fall semester of 2014 but also is

looking into the possibility of install-

ing an outdoor classroom at Lincoln

University. FWS

Dr. Baskerville in the field with SCA crew. FWS File Photo

3

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Despite the almost total lack of

sunshine on Saturday, July 19, the

Third Annual Tinicum NWR Butter-

fly Count was a great success. But-

terflies prefer sunny warmer days,

with temperatures over 80

degrees. So the cloudy cooler condi-

tions did not bode well for a good

count. However, we had a surpris-

ingly good day with 21 species re-

corded (22 if we count some Mon-

arch Eggs discovered on milkweed).

That total is two more species than

last year’s count, but one less than

our record total of 22, on the first

count in 2012. The count started in

the morning at the Rte. 420 refuge

entrance from the Long Hook Creek

Loop to the Wetland Loop. After a

short break we continued the count

at the Visitors Center and around the

Impoundment Loop. By the end of

the count we added two new species

to the count, Meadow Fritillary and

Little Wood Satyr. We recorded 114

individuals on the count.

The count is different each year

because of the timing and weather

conditions on the count day. So we

missed some species that we have

seen regularly on past counts. In ad-

dition to this years’ species count,

previous counts have also recorded

Spicebush Swallowtail, Red-banded

Hairstreak, Variegated Fritillary,

American Snout, Painted and Ameri-

can Lady, Red-spotted Purple, Mon-

arch, Common Sooty wing, and

Cloudless Sulphur. This gives us a

grand total of 31 species on the over-

all count totals verified as still resid-

ing on the refuge so far.

I’d like to thank Grace Jeschke,

Edie Parnum, Barb Elliot, Lynn Ro-

man, Nancy Hence and many others

for their help in spotting and identi-

fying the butterflies under less than

ideal conditions. The count is done

in conjunction with North American

Butterfly Association’s “July 4th

Butterfly Count” done each year

through the country. This year’s

count represents the 40th year that

they have been conducted. The

Heinz Refuge is but one of over 340

counts throughout the country.

Included in our species count were

1 each of Black Swallowtail, Eastern

Tiger Swallowtail, Meadow Fritil-

lary, Viceroy, Little Wood Satyr,

Little Glassywing, and Zabulon

Skipper. Other numbers included 2

Question Marks, 4 Summer Azures,

and Eastern Commas, 5 each of Or-

ange Sulphurs, Silver-spotted Skip-

pers, Pecks’s Skippers, and Wild

Indigo Duskywings. Our count also

included 6 Pearl Crescents, and 7

each of Clouded Sulphurs, and East-

ern Tailed Blues.

The most abundant species in-

cluded 10 Broadwing Skippers and

17 each of Red Admirals and Least

Skippers, while Cabbage Whites

topped the list at 24.

Although we did not find any adult

Monarchs during our survey, evi-

dence of their presence was verified

by our discovering 2 Monarch eggs.

There were also a few Odes flying

that day including: Blue Dashers,

Needhams, Eastern Amberwing,

Common Whitetail and Eastern

F o r k t a i l . C l i f f H e n c e

Butterfly Count at Refuge Tallies 22 Species

Editor’s Note:

The presence of butterflies is an

indicator of a healthy environment.

Arthur M. Shapiro’s “Butterflies

of the Delaware Valley” published

in 1966 by the American Entomo-

logical Society recorded 59 species

of butterfly in Eastwick/Tinicum.

This writer photo-documented 42

of those species during the late

70’s and early 80’s.

The successive decline seen in

recorded area species is representa-

tive of conditions found throughout

the world ~ a trend that the FWS

and FOHR hope to reverse on the

refuge through the efforts of our

volunteer “Weed Warrior” team.

4

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Champlain Fish and Wildlife Re-

sources Office in Essex Junction,

Vermont.

In 1995, he started work at Wallkill

River National Wildlife Refuge

(NWR), focusing on habitat selec-

tion in grassland birds, as a gradu-

ate Student Career Experience Pro-

gram participant.

In 1998, he moved to Back Bay

NWR as assistant biologist for sev-

eral years, then moved to a regional

position as assistant regional biolo-

gist with Hal Laskowski, located at

Prime Hook NWR. In 2003, he

moved to the Division of Migratory

Birds in the Northeast Regional

Office, working on migratory bird

conservation in the Northeast

Region. In 2006, Lamar took a posi-

tion with the National Wildlife

Refuge System (NWRS), as an assis-

tant refuge supervisor. For a year

during this time, he served as act-

ing Chief of the Office of Diversity

and Civil Rights in the Northeast

Regional Office.

Lamar is a wonderful leader, and

will be a great addition to the team at

John Heinz NWR. In Lamar’s own

words — “I’m delighted to join the

diverse, energetic community of

Heinz Refuge staff, volunteers, visi-

tors and supporters. I’m looking

forward to meeting as many of you

as possible in person, and working

on a variety of exciting initiatives to

engage urban youth and adults

alike."

New Refuge Manager, Lamar

Gore, Welcomed at John Heinz

National Wildlife Refuge

New Jersey native, Lamar Gore,

has been selected as the new Refuge

Manager at John Heinz National

Wildlife Refuge and began work at

the refuge at the end of Au-

gust. Lamar has a strong conserva-

tion background, working as a biolo-

gist at several National Wildlife Ref-

uges, and is a great advocate for

youth engagement in conservation,

leading the way by developing the

US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Career

Discovery Internship Program

(CDIP).

Lamar started working for the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service at North

Attleboro National Fish Hatchery in

Eastern Massachusetts, as a Biologi-

cal Technician in 1991. In 1992 and

1993, he worked as a Biological

Technician at the Montpelier Office

of Fishery Assistance and the Lake

Manager’s Corner

Welcome Lamar Gore,

Incoming Heinz Refuge Manager

New Refuge Manager, Lamar Gore, relaxes while doing field work.

FWS file photo

We all wish retired Heinz Refuge Manager,

Gary Stolz, well in his “life after FWS”

FWS file photo

Refuge Manager Gary Stolz

Retires After 33 Years with the

US Fish and Wildlife Service After 33 years of service, Heinz

Refuge Manager Gary Stolz, retired

from the US Fish and Wildlife

Service in May. Throughout his ca-

reer, Gary worked at a variety of ref-

uges and parks from John Heinz Na-

tional Wildlife Refuge to DC Head-

quarters and the National Conserva-

tion Training Center to many awe-

some field assignments along the

way including Santa Ana, Lower Rio

Grande Valley, Bosque del Apache,

Loxahatchee and Hobe Sound Na-

tional Wildlife Refuges, Carlsbad

Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains, Ev-

erglades and Glacier Bay National

Parks, Flaming Gorge and Glen Can-

yon National Recreation Areas, El

Morro National Monument, Davy

Crockett National Forest, overseas

details and more.

Reflecting back on his dedicated

career with the US Fish and Wildlife

Service, Stolz stated “I have been

truly blessed with a great adventure

in conservation and working with

great folks like you along the way.”

Gary is looking forward to less

paperwork, more family time,

hiking, birding, and fishing.

5

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Who remembers childhood games

played in well-used parks, or around

giant mounds of dirt with occasional

‘treasures’ found buried inside? Such

areas are irresistible to kids, and usu-

ally create more memories than

problems. But what happens when

such unofficial playgrounds turn into

a national priority superfund site?

What are the cumulative effects on

people who spent time there?

Eastwick residents are considering

these questions and many more, as

the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) prepares to release its

official Record of Decision (ROD)

concerning remediation of the Clear-

view Landfill. Situated along the

banks of the Darby Creek, just yards

from quiet homes on the ‘planet

streets’ (Saturn, Mars, etc.), this

superfund site is one of the most

unique in the country, in its close

proximity and impact on a residen-

tial neighborhood; the remediation

process requires intimate community

coordination and communication.

Clearview Landfill’s past, present

and future impact on Eastwick is

interwoven with a host of environ-

mental factors, including nearby in-

ternational airport, mega-highway

and oil refinery. Dr. Marilyn How-

arth, Director of Community En-

gagement at University of Pennsyl-

vania Center for Excellence in Envi-

ronmental Toxicology, explains that

it’s extremely difficult to discern

possible landfill affects on individual

people, considering the variety of

other contributing factors.

Meanwhile, Darby Creek waters

flow endlessly through the landfill,

carrying life-changing forces to far

reaching places above ground and

below, in fair weather or stormy

times. Eastwick’s chronic flooding

remains a critically important factor

in addressing the superfund site as

well as the future of the community.

Eastwick Friends & Neighbors Coa-

lition remains committed to solutions

that make Eastwick whole.

Eastwick Gears Up For EPA’s Record of Decision

on Clearview Landfill Remediation

Eastwick Friends &

Neighbors Coalition

invites everyone to attend a

PUBLIC COMMUNITY

MEETING

at

John Heinz National Wildlife

Refuge

September 18, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Learn about EPA remediation

plans for Clearview Landfill.

Health questions will be addressed

by Dr. Marilyn Howarth. Bring a

friend - stay informed and engaged

to keep our community strong and

sustainable!

For timely updates, Visit

www.EastwickFriends.wordpress.

com

Summer 2014 CDIP Intern Enjoyed Her

First Heinz Refuge Experience

My name is Mary Nghe, and I am a

third year pharmacy student at the

University of the Sciences. To bal-

ance out all of the studying in

college, hiking and being in nature

became my coping mechanism for

stress.

Unfortunately though, I didn’t dis-

cover John Heinz National Wildlife

Refuge until this past summer when

I became the Career Discovery In-

ternship Program (CDIP) intern as

part of the Student Conservation As-

sociation (SCA) and AmeriCorps.

Since living in a city seems to limit

one’s opportunities to enjoy nature, I

was fortunate to be able to intern at

the Heinz Refuge. I loved being at

John Heinz because I was able to

spark an interest in nature for a lot of

young campers.

Besides that, being enrolled in the

CDIP program, allowed me to help

improve the refuge by removing in-

vasive plants and replacing them

with native plants. I went birding for

the first time at Heinz, and learned a

lot more than I expected to - all be-

cause of the amazing staff, volun-

teers, and visitors.

FWS File Photo

6

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Program

Descriptions

Programs may be cancelled

in case of inclement weather;

call ahead to confirm.

Bird Walks

Last 2-3 hours, suitable for

all levels of birders, from

beginners to advanced.

Binoculars available to

borrow from front desk.

Flower Walks

Dick Cloud leads walks in all

seasons looking at plants.

Photo Walks

Last 2-3 hours, suitable for

all levels of photographers,

from beginners to advanced.

Bring your own camera.

Story Time

Best for children age 4 to 7.

Nature Explorers

Short program and walk.

Best for children age 8 to 12.

Holiday Closings:

Visitor Center will be closed but the grounds will

be open on the following holidays:

Labor Day, Monday, 9/1

Columbus Day, Monday 10/13

Veterans Day, Tuesday 11/11

Thanksgiving, Thursday 11/27

September ————————————————— Monday, September 1 6pm BIRD WALK Nighthawk Watch on Big Boardwalk Debbie Beer

Saturday, September 6 9am BIRD WALK Late Summer Birding Cliff Hence

8am PHOTO WALK Ned Levi

Sunday, September 7 9am BIRD WALK Birding in the New Academic Year Damon Orsetti

Saturday, September 13 9am BIRD WALK Tinicum’s Fall Birds Lynn Roman

1-6pm Darby Creek Valley Association 30th Anniversary Celebration

Free and open to all

Sunday, September 14 9am Birding for Fall Migrants Damon Orsetti

Wed, September 17 12–3:30 VOLUNTEER TRAINING – Orientation to Env. Ed.* Staff

Saturday, September 20 7-3pm CRADLE OF BIRDING FESTIVAL - Events throughout the day

1pm FOHR Photo Contest People’s Choice Judging and Awards

Sunday, September 21 9am BIRD WALK Early Fall Birding MaryEllen Krober

Wed, September 24 9–12 VOLUNTEER TRAINING – Env. Ed. - Pond Study* Staff

Saturday, September 27 9am BIRD WALK Fall Feathered Wonders Lynn Roman

Sunday, September 28 9am BIRD WALK Autumn Avian Delights Debbie Beer

October —————————————————— Wed, October 1 9–12 VOLUNTEER TRAINING – Env. Ed. - PA Birds* Staff

Saturday, October 4 9am BIRD WALK Birding by Ear Gregg Gorton

Sunday, October 5 9am BIRD WALK Late Migrants? Edie Parnum

Wed, October 8 9–12 VOLUNTEER TRAINING – Env. Ed.Lesson Roundup* Staff

Saturday, October 11 9am PHOTO WALK Meet at the Rt. 420 gravel lot Ned Levi

Sunday, October 12 7-7 The BIG SIT- Count Birds for Conservation at Observation Tower

Saturday, October 18 9am BIRD WALK Fall Birding at Tinicum Cliff Hence

1pm STORY TIME – Migration Staff

Sunday, October 19 9am BIRD WALK Fall Birding Robert Confer

Saturday, October 25 9am BIRD WALK Cool Autumn Birding MaryEllen Krober

Sunday, October 26 1-4pm VOLUNTEER TRAINING - Leading Youth Groups* Staff

November ————————————————— Saturday, November 1 9am BIRD WALK Ducks and Stuff at Tinicum Cliff Hence

Sunday, November 2 9am BIRD WALK Chilly Birds at the Refuge Edie Parnum

Saturday, November 8 9am PHOTO WALK Ned Levi

Sunday, November 9 9am BIRD WALK Birding in the Height of Autumn Damon Orsetti

Saturday, November 15 8am BIRD WALK Birding by Ear Gregg Gorton

1pm STORY TIME – Fall Adaptations Staff

Sunday, November 16 9am BIRD WALK Mid-Autumn Birding Wonders MaryEllen Krober

Saturday, November 22 9am BIRD WALK Cool Weather Birding Cliff Hence

Sunday, November 23 1-3pm BIRD WALK Duck Discovery and More PA Young Birders

Saturday, November 29 9am BIRD WALK Holiday Birding Lynn Roman

Sunday, November 30 9am BIRD WALK Birding Before December Starts Damon Orsetti

Fall 2014 Walks, Programs & Events

Walks meet at Visitor Center unless noted.

# Meet at Route 420 side of Refuge in gravel parking lot.

* Please call 215-365-3118 to register.

SAVE the DATES:

December 13 – Christmas Bird Count

January 3 – Winter Bird Count for Kids

January 31 – Groundhog Day Family Festival

Mark Your Calendars

Refuge Gate Closing

Times Changing:

9/2 thru 11/2 ~ 8PM

11/3 thru 12/31 ~ 6PM

Wildlife & Conservation Festival Saturday September 20th 2014

7 AM 3 PM

Live Animals Trolley Tours

Workshops Live Music Fly-tying

Fishing Birding Photography

Archery Wildlife Origami

Guided Family Hikes Exhibitors

Butterfly Walks Food

J o h n H e i n z N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e 8 6 0 1 L i n d b e r g h B l v d

P h i l a d e l p h i a , P A 1 9 1 5 3 2 1 5 - 3 6 5 - 3 1 1 8

w w w . f w s . g o v / h e i n z

Keynote Speaker – Dr. Dan Duran

Bugs, Beetles, and Other Insect Pollinators

Insects are the largest group of wildlife on Planet Earth,

yet remain less known to most refuge visitors. From

pollinators, to decomposers, to lunch for birds, fish,

reptiles, and amphibians, insects play a critical role in

most food chains that support all life. Come bug Dr. Dan

Duran, entomology professor at Drexel University, also

formally Vanderbilt University, and author of Tiger Beetles

of North America from 2PM-3PM in the Visitor Center

Auditorium to learn about native refuge insects.

Sponsored By US Fish and Wildlife Service

The Friends of Heinz Refuge

FREE!

8

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

The FOHR Photo Group held its

quarterly meeting on Sunday, July

13th. There was discussion on

upcoming trips and planning for the

Photo Contest to be held during the

Cradle of Birding, Saturday,

September 20th.

Ned Levi led a photo walk on

Saturday, August 9th on the 420 side

of the refuge. Ned reports “We had

an amazing outing, especially getting

butterfly, bee, and dragonfly images.

It took us an hour at the beginning

of the walk to go just 0.4 miles up

the pipeline trail from the parking lot

because we saw so many Skippers,

other butterflies, and bees. We saw

some caterpillars including an

American Dagger Moth caterpillar.

We saw cicada killers (Sphecius spe-

ciosus). We saw some birds too, of

course; Ospreys, Herons, Egrets,

Blue winged Teals, Gold Finches,

Cormorants, Marsh Wrens, Eastern

Kingbird, Cedar Waxwing, and oth-

ers. We also saw some great land-

scape views, including looking

across the marsh to the skyscrapers

of Center City Philadelphia.”

Recent Photo Group Trip to

New York City Enjoyed by All.

In June, the Heinz Photo Group

went on a Photo Walk in New York

City, for a change of pace, and to

work on landscape photography

skills, so important in many genres

of photography, including nature

photography.

The group met at Penn Station

early in the morning, then left for

Castle Clinton, the security entrance

for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty

and Ellis Island.

Once on Liberty Island, we circled

Lady Liberty, looking for different

perspectives and classic landscape

opportunities, including views of

lower Manhattan. Then we sailed to

Ellis Island, the most famous immi-

gration gateway to the United States.

We stood in the footsteps of millions

of immigrants in the “Great Hall.”

Upon returning to Manhattan we

walked along Wall Street to the

World Trade Center and the 9/11

Memorial. While photographing the

9/11 Memorial we all agreed that its

stirring design was extremely diffi-

cult to communicate through photo-

graphs. We learned much about pho-

tographic story telling there.

Before finishing our day, we

stopped at Grand Central Terminal,

and its amazing main concourse. Af-

ter photographing there, including

catching two wedding couples in

formal wear, we ate gelato and other

light fare before going back into the

90ºF plus heat.

Photo Group News By Kay Meng

All Photography

Enthusiasts Welcome

We welcome photographers of

any skill level from beginners,

to professional photographers.

Since we are both a service and

educational arm of the Friends

organization, we expect every

member of the Group to

volunteer for the Refuge during

the year.

We have a lot fun volunteering

while learning about photogra-

phy, wildlife, and taking trips.

We run the annual Friends of

Heinz Refuge Photo Contest and

have a “traveling exhibit” of our

own photography. We expect

the exhibit to again begin its

journey to several locations in

the Greater Philadelphia Region.

The Photo Group meets quar-

terly on the 3rd Sunday of Janu-

ary, April, July, and October, at

10am, in the Visitor Center at

the Refuge. The next meeting of

the Photo Group will be held on

October 26, 2014.

If you’re interested in joining

the Photo Group, attending a

nature photography workshop,

or a Nature Photography Walk,

please contact us at: jhnwrpho-

togroup@gmail.com.

We finished the day on the Top of

the Rock, the upper observation plat-

form of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The

panorama opportunities there are

spectacular.

Our next trips will be to the Na-

tional Aquarium in Baltimore, and

then Chincoteague National Wildlife

Refuge in the fall. Blue Dasher ~ Skimmer Family

9

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Photo Essay of the Heinz Refuge

By Maureen Wade

I am a Business Systems Ana-

lyst at Drexel University, lived

most of my life in the Philadel-

phia area, and have been a long

time volunteer and friend of the

Refuge, enjoying many hours

wandering refuge trails, unwind-

ing after a busy week at work.

I have helped at Darby Creek

Cleanup events, worked on trail

maintenance, and joined the

Friends Photo Group, whose

members document refuge events,

sponsor annual photo contests,

guide quarterly walks, and hold

photography workshops.

Visitors inspired by sweeping marsh landscape at Heinz Refuge.

The Heinz Refuge teems with “pollinator

power.” Sunflowers and Thistles are just

two of many plant species which provide

food needed to sustain area pollinators.

Do you recognize these bobbing butts? Look twice to notice their stunning colors!!

A Red-tailed Hawk perches in solitary

splendor. Frequent visitors to the ref-

uge, they may often be seen soaring

through the skies searching diligently

for their next meal.

Frog camouflaged in Duckweed.

The BiG SiTCounting for Conservation

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Join the Heinz Refuge “Big Sittas” incounting birds as part of the annual,

At the last BIG SIT, 77 species were foundat Heinz Refuge. The cumulative, 4-year list

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, PhiladelphiaObservation Tower ~ Sunrise to Sunset

counting birds as part of the annual,international BIG SIT event! Our citizenscience effort highlights the rich variety ofbirds that depend upon Refuge resources.

at Heinz Refuge. The cumulative, 4 year listof 107 species showcases impressive birddiversity and distribution during fallmigration, as birds fly across the continent.

How many birds will we find this year? Join us to see for yourself!

EAGLES • HAWKS • FALCONS • DUCKS • GEESE • HERONS • EGRETS • SANDPIPERSWARBLERS • WOODPECKERS • WRENS • SPARROWS • SWALLOWS • TERNS • GULLS

KINGFISHERS • KINGLETS • FINCHES • NUTHATCHES • THRUSHES • BLACKBIRDS

Great BIRDS ~ Great FRIENDS ~ Great FUN!

All are welcome, no experience necessary. Bring binoculars and friends. Stay for a few

minutes, hours or all day.

We hope to see you at the BIG SIT!

Photo credits: Debbie Beer, Kay Meng, Ann Reeves.

JOHN HEINZ NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE8601 LINDBERGH BLVD, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153

Phone: 215-365-3118 www.fws.gov/Heinz

FRIENDS OF HEINZ REFUGEInfo@FriendsofHeinzRefuge.org

www.FriendsofHeinzRefuge.org Facebook/HeinzRefuge

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www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Habitat, habitat; how is the

habitat? This has been a very busy

spring and summer for biology work

at the Refuge. Thanks to help from

our volunteer Weed Warriors and the

JHNWR Student Conser-

vation Association (SCA)

crew, a tremendous

amount has been accom-

plished this summer and

we were lucky enough to

be awarded grants for two

different projects.

One grant was to treat

invasive plants in a 1.5

acre section of the Refuge

on the Trolley Bed Trail.

It has been infested with

Wisteria and Japanese

knotweed for a few years

and although Weed Warri-

ors had been cutting the

wisteria and I had been

applying herbicides to the

knotweed, we just were not winning

the battle. This grant allowed us to

hire Weeds Inc. to come in and ap-

ply fall applications to areas that I

just couldn’t reach with my equip-

ment. Volunteers cut the vines ear-

lier this spring so we could mini-

mize their reach into the trees. The

site was sprayed twice - two

weeks apart - by Weeds Inc.

starting in late August. Our hope is

to eradicate these invasive plants

and allow native plants in the seed

bank to emerge next spring.

Another grant allowed us to pur-

chase 300 native flowers and 6

large (10-12 foot) trees to plant

around the edges of the meadow

Precious Refuge Tree Habitat Got a Boost This Summer

From SCA Crew and Refuge Weed Warriors

Veteran Weed Warrior Reflects on the Values of Refuge Trees

situated between the two parking

lots. The area has been encroached

upon by thistles and Japanese Hops

that were taking over valuable soil

sites for native plants. We mowed

the invasive plants and then the Stu-

dent Conservation Associa-

tion crew planted 50 each of

Blue False Indigo, Mist

Flower, Beard-tongue Fox-

glove, Clustered Mountain

Mint, Orange Coneflower,

and Verbena. All of these

plants will provide nectar for

butterflies and humming-

birds, as well as other polli-

nator species.

We then planted the trees

which in time will throw

shade on the parking areas,

thereby reducing the amount

of heat given off into the at-

mosphere and keeping visi-

tors’ cars a bit cooler.

The trees included 2 American

Holly, 2 Green Beech, and 2 Sweet-

gum trees that will hopefully thrive

to provide resting and nesting habitat

for birds as well as shade for years to

come. Brendalee Phillips, FWS

A walk on the refuge trails will

reveal a surprising variety of tree

species. Trees provide essential food

and shelter for many types of wild-

life and perform other functions in-

cluding soil stabilization.

The refuge’s native trees are de-

scendants of trees that have grown

there for centuries and are common

in marshy locations and moist

woods. Each species has special

characteristics.

Red and Silver Maples are com-

mon and are among the first trees to

flower in spring.

Several species of Oak grow in the

refuge: Pin Oak, Red Oak, Swamp

White, White Oak produce acorns

that are consumed by animals.

Sweetgum has beautiful red, star

shaped leaves in autumn. Edible

walnuts hang from the branches of

Black Walnut trees in late summer.

Massive Cottonwoods are some of

the largest trees on the Refuge. The

cottonwoods are exceptionally

tolerant of flooding, erosion, and

flood deposits filling around the

trunks.

Volunteers are planting hundreds

of native trees at the refuge. Dog-

wood, Paw Paw, and Red Bud are

just a few.

Taylor Arboretum has graciously

offered to donate 26 smaller trees

and we will be planting those in vari-

ous places throughout the refuge this

fall. Come and enjoy their shade,

inhabitants, and beauty. George Meng

SCA Students Planting Trees - Photo By Chuck Lafferty

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www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

If you are reading this article, I

think we might have 2 things in

common to start:

First, you already know about our

wonderful “urban oasis,” and sec-

ond, you may be considering retire-

ment or are retired already.

My guess is that we have even

more in common…. Probably

a delight in nature, enjoyment

of beauty, and at least a little

more time to spend here at

Heinz.

As I approached my retire-

ment last year after working

for the City of Philadelphia for

38 years, I was already a vol-

unteer bird walk leader at the

refuge. Nevertheless, the

questions about how I would

like to spend some of my extra

time were on my mind. Life

after retirement would be very

different!!

It was comforting to know

that I would finally be able to

spend as much time as I really

wanted to at my much loved

wildlife refuge which is liter-

ally at my doorstep - The

John Heinz National Wildlife

Refuge at Tinicum.

F o r m e , t h e w o r d

“REFUGE” has more than one

meaning – a “refuge” is most cer-

tainly for wildlife and, for me it is

just as much a “refuge” from the

hustle and bustle of urban life!

So, a year later, here is what I’ve

learned. There are many more ways

to enjoy my time here than I’d imag-

ined… with taking a healthy walk

just being a beginning. The more I

was here, the more I found interest-

ing folks who seemed happy to say

“hello”…or more! The Heinz Ref-

uge is a very people friendly place!

Beyond the many wonders of na-

ture that can be experienced here,

there are so many projects and ac-

tivities that I could join or help plan,

that I feel excited to see what else is

going on!! I’ve just volunteered to

learn to help in the little gift shop

that is run by FOHR. I have volun-

teered to show a ladies group around

One Retiree’s View on Taking Advantage of Exciting

Volunteer Opportunities at the Heinz Refuge

(they were lots of fun too). One

week I helped guide 2 youth groups

(ages 6-8) that visited the refuge for

their first time!

If I feel like cooking, I can help

give out hot dogs in the fall’s Cradle

of Birding Festival. If I want to pull

weeds or plant native plants, I can

join our fantastic “Weed Warriors”

program any time!

If I choose to volunteer at in-

doors activities, I can sit at the

front desk to greet visitors and

share wonderful ways to enjoy

the refuge.

As a member of the refuge’s

friends group (FOHR), I began

to attend their monthly board

meetings. I quickly realized

that they were an ACTION

organization; I joined it, and

am now happily planning

membership events, and help-

ing the refuge plan the Cradle

of Birding and other seasonal

events. I love the feeling of

being part of and supporting

organizational improvements,

outreach in regional festivals,

photo and art contests, and

more every month!!

Now I decided to invite YOU

to enjoy the incredible experi-

ences to be had at the Heinz

Refuge - the practically limitless

array of opportunities to enjoy our

refuge - small adventure on every

visit!

Let Heinz be a part of your retire-

ment plan too. I hope to see you

soon and often… Lynn Roman

It Can be Really Easy to Sign Up and Train to be a Volunteer!

Plan to attend our next Volunteer Program Event and learn to manage groups while teaching environmental concepts.

Sunday, October 26 ~ 1 to 4 pm.

For additional information or to register call 215-365-3118 or email Suzanne—Suzanne_kelley@ fws.gov.

Lynn Roman eyes a Cecropia Moth Caterpillar.

Photo by: Mike Cosgrove

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www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

FOHR Announces Exciting New Grant Program to

Facilitate School Field Trips to the Heinz Refuge

Are you an educator who is looking for innovative ways to engage

your students’ interest in the natural sciences? Have you heard

about the availability of the wonderful “outdoor classroom” that may

be found at the Heinz Refuge? Do you believe that your opportuni-

ties for field trips to the refuge are limited by the lack of funds to

cover the cost of buses? If the answer to these questions is YES,

read on!!

The Friends of Heinz Refuge (FOHR) are excited to announce that

we have created a new “Field Trip Busing Grant Program” through

which area teachers/schools may request funding assistance to cover

some or all of the busing costs associated with student field trips.

Beginning with the commencement of the school year 2014-2015,

we invite area teachers to download the application form by visiting

our website - www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org. After the form has been

completed, including all the required signatures, it can be submitted to

us either by mail: PO Box 333, Folcroft, PA 19032-0333 (Attention

Education Committee), or through our website email –

info@friendsofheinzrefuge.org. Please note that part of the applica-

tion process requires teachers to contact the refuge

Erika_scarborough@fws.gov for additional instructions and to reserve

their trip date.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and must be

submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the anticipated field trip date.

Maximum funding will be $200.00 per school, per year. FOHR’s

education committee will meet monthly and will review all submitted

applications then, with notice of grant approvals being sent immedi-

ately after approval.

We look forward to seeing your classes at the refuge—soon!

Volunteer Training Available to Lead Environmental Education Field Trips

Do you enjoy sharing your love of the natural world with children? The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at

Tinicum is inviting you to help us do just that! The refuge will be offering a series of training classes to provide you with

the tools to educate students at the refuge. Volunteers should plan on attending the orientation and at least one other edu-

cational training.

Last spring, we had a great bunch of enthusiastic and diverse people sign up as volunteers and participate in the train-

ing. We have had great fun sharing the resources of the refuge with the students that have visited in the past and are

looking forward to a great fall season. A great opportunity for retirees with time on their hands. Come, join the FUN!

Orientation: Wednesday, September 17th 12:00pm—3:30pm

Pond Study: Wednesday, September 24th 9:00 am—12:00pm

PA Birds: Wednesday, October 1st 9:00am—12:00pm

Lesson Roundup: Wednesday, April 16th 9:00am—12:00pm

For more information and to RSVP contact: Erika Scarborough,

EE Specialist 215-365-3118 Erika_Scarborough@fws.gov

Picture YOUR classroom exploring the Heinz

Refuge’s unique “Outdoor Classroom” where

binoculars may be borrowed, nature trails

abound, safe opportunities for pond study are

close by, and indoor classrooms are also

available complete with microscopes.

Article and Photos by: Jean Diehl

FWS File Photo

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www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

“Tinicum Treasure” Tales As told by Store Manager,

Annemarie Rapp

Current members of FOHR get 10% off of their purchases (there are some exclusions) and profits

from sales are targeted for Refuge projects.

As a bonus, your FOHR membership also entitles you to a 10% discount at bookstores on all National Wildlife Refuges

located in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Just show them your membership card!! It is that easy!!

Training Date Set For

New Store Volunteers

Saturday - 9/27/2014

9:30 am - 11:30 am

Friends of Heinz Refuge needs

more volunteers to help run our

store! We’d like to expand our

hours and keep the store open con-

sistently, seven days a week. Ful-

filling this goal is most important,

as all of the store’s net proceeds

are invested in refuge projects and

programs.

Please join our Store Volunteer

training and learn to handle mer-

chandise, interact with custom-

ers, and use the cash register.

For more information, or to reg-

ister, contact the refuge, at

215.365.3118, Annemarie Rapp

at 484.472.6277, or email us at

info@friendsofheinzrefuge.org.

If you have stopped by the ref-

uge visitor center lately, you

may have noticed that our store

“Tinicum Treasures” has not

been open very often. We are

sorry for the inconvenience this may

have caused you, and we are work-

ing hard to remedy the situation.

Due to some recent changes in

FWS regulations, only Friends’ vol-

unteers are permitted to ring up sales

in the gift shop, and that meant that

some of the refuge’s front desk vol-

unteers who were not also signed up

as Friends volunteers were no longer

permitted to work in the store.

Currently the only relatively reli-

able time to find the store open is on

Wednesdays, when Maryanne

Werner is there – usually from 9 am

till 11 am. Join us in thanking Mary-

anne who has volunteered with us

almost since the store opened more

than 10 years ago.

So, as you can see, until new vol-

unteers are found and are trained

our store hours will remain se-

verely limited.

If you DO decide to volunteer, you

will find that working hours can be

extremely flexible, and can be tai-

lored to suit your individual needs.

If you can give us even a few hours –

one or two days a week, it would be

a great help. School field trips will

be starting on weekdays soon, and

being able to have the store open for

the students is one of our primary

goals. Another peak need for store

volunteers would be during week-

ends when so many more people

have time to visit the refuge.

All volunteers will be trained to

ring up sales and, if desired, they can

also be trained to sit at the front desk

greeting visitors and answering

phones (a great way to fill your time

when the store is not busy).

Once a volunteer has accumulated

forty (40) hours they will receive a

one year free membership to our

Friends organization and 15% dis-

count on most merchandise in the

store. In addition, all volunteers will

be given a FOHR Volunteer T-shirt

to wear while on duty.

Federal Duck Stamps Are

Available NOW!

Federal Duck Stamps are once

again available for purchase in the

shop for $15.00. Please help us to

surpass our all-time high number of

47 stamps sold last year.

Besides serving as a hunting

license and a conservation tool, a

current Federal Duck Stamp also

serves as an entrance pass for na-

tional wildlife refuges where ad-

mission is charged. Duck Stamps

and products that bear stamp images

are also popular collector items.

Federal Duck Stamps are a

vital tool for wetland conserva-

tion. Ninety-eight cents out of

every dollar generated by the

sale of Federal Duck Stamps

goes directly to purchase or

lease wetland habitat for pro-

tection in the National Wildlife

Refuge System.

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www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Report Violations

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (215) 365-3118

Pennsylvania Game Commission

SE Region Law Enforcement (610) 926-3136

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission SE Region Law Enforcement

(717) 626-0228

EMERGENCY 911

Get hooked on fishing! Refuge visitors can borrow fishing

rods, reels, hooks and other tackle at the Visitor Center front

desk. Equipment check-out procedure is similar to that of

libraries. Visitor Center hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm.

This program is a partnership between the Pennsylvania

Fish and Boat Commission, American Sportfishing Asso-

ciation, and John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Fishing

equipment may also be loaned to groups conducting commu-

nity education programs. Call (215) 365-3118 to inquire.

To find other locations which loan fishing tackle, check out PA Fish and Boat Commission’s website:

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/loaner.htm.

Friends of Heinz Refuge (FOHR) Membership Donation Form

This is (please check one): О New Member О Renewal Member О Gift Membership* О Donation

Please check one of the following Member Levels and fill-in the Form completely:

[ ] $10 Duckling (Student/Senior)

[ ] $15 $20** Heron (Individual)

[ ] $25 $30** Monarch (Family)

[ ] $50 $60** Red-bellied Turtle

[ ] $100 Red Fox

[ ] $150 Otter

[ ] $250 Merlin

[ ] $500 Osprey

[ ] $__________ Donation

[ ] Check here if you would like newsletter mailed to you (otherwise you’ll be notified via email when online).

[ ] Check here if you would like to be contacted about potential volunteer opportunities.

Your support of Friends of Heinz Refuge helps advance our mission to connect people with nature and promote envi-ronmental stewardship of natural resources. Membership benefits include invitation to special member-only events and voting for Board Directors at the FOHR annual meeting. You also get 10% discount at gift shops operated by

Friends of National Wildlife Refuges in the Mid Atlantic. If you provide your email address, we’ll email you with news, reminders about upcoming events, and when our quarterly newsletter, “Marsh Musings” is posted on our website.

We do not share your information with any other organizations.

Donations to Friends of Heinz Refuge are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Official registration and financial in-formation of the Friends of Heinz Refuge at Tinicum may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling

toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999.

Name _________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

City, State, Zip __________________________________________

Phone Number __________________________________________

Email address ___________________________________________

Make checks payable to FRIENDS OF HEINZ REFUGE and mail to

FOHR, P.O. Box 333, Folcroft, PA 19032-0333. You may also

drop-off at Heinz Refuge front desk when you visit.

*Gift Memberships, please indicate clearly the Recipient and the Giver. If questions, email: info@friendsofheinzrefuge.org

**Join or Renew Membership TODAY before membership level changes become effective October 1, 2014 **

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www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Fall 2014

Friends of Heinz Refuge

PO Box 333

Folcroft, PA 19032-0333

Non Profit Org

U.S. Postage

Paid

Permit 45

Havertown, PA 19083

Return Service Requested

FRIENDS MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

Friends of Heinz Refuge Annual Membership Meeting

Sunday, October 19th ~ 1 till 3 pm

At the refuge Visitor Center

Our Agenda Will Include:

Luncheon Meeting;

An opportunity to meet and greet our new refuge manager, Lamar Gore;

Election of Board Members;

A Presentation reviewing the past year’s board activities, and a sneak peak at our

upcoming plans;

An opportunity to catch up with old friends, and to make new ones.

Watch your mailbox to find your personalized invitation including a list

of proposed candidates to fill board positions.