Newsletter of the Friends of Heinz Refuge at Tinicum Marsh ... Marsh Musings Winter 2012 Marsh...

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org Marsh Musings Winter 2012

Marsh MusingsMarsh MusingsMarsh Musings Winter 2012 Volume 0412

Friends of Heinz Refuge and Eastwick Community Work

Together For an Environmentally Sustainable Future

Newsletter of the Friends of Heinz Refuge at Tinicum

with accompanying noise and air

pollution. The Coalition formed

when Eastwick residents and refuge

supporters united in opposition to a

proposed high-density apartment

construction project, whereby the

Korman Company would build 722

rental apartment units with 1,034

parking spaces on 35 acres adjacent

to Heinz Refuge, part of a larger 128

acre green space parcel.

Water is at the core of the issue.

The John Heinz National Wildlife

Refuge encompasses nearly 1,000

acres of freshwater tidal marsh and

wooded wetlands. These natural

ecosystems are not only valuable

habitat for a wide variety of wildlife,

but they act like a giant sponge help-

ing to reduce flood damage by slow-

ing and storing flood water. The 128

acres of green space adjacent to the

Refuge acts similarly, soaking up

excess water and filtering ground

contaminants from runoff. The land

is located in a FEMA-designated 100

year floodplain.

Both Eastwick residents, and the

Heinz Refuge currently experience

consistent and significant flooding.

The Eastwick Friends and Neighbors

Coalition (EFNC) is concerned that a

development of this magnitude, with

expansive impervious surfaces,

would exacerbate flooding, put new

residents in harm’s way, and strain

the ability of the Refuge’s wetlands

to absorb this related increase of

floodwaters. Recognizing the long-

overdue need to address the issue

comprehensively, Local district

Continued on page 3 “Eastwick”

“The Refuge was born with East-

wick and will go extinct with East-

wick.” Inspired by these words from

Terry Williams, a lifelong commu-

nity resident, the Eastwick Friends &

Neighbors Coalition, including the

Friends of Heinz Refuge, forges

ahead with its goal of planning and

advocating for an environmentally,

economically and socially sustain-

able future for the community.

It’s a weighty goal, considering

both the Eastwick community, and

the Heinz Refuge have had to con-

tend with more than their fair share

of environmental burdens, including

two national priority superfund land-

fills located in their midst, and their

proximity to one of the nation’s busi-

est airports and interstate highways,

Michael Nairn, Professor of

Urban Studies at University of

Pennsylvania, asked, “Why are

we considering another high

density residential development

in this floodplain? Have we not

learned that filling in wetlands,

which provide natural flood

protection, is not a good idea?

Have we not figured out that

these areas are meant to flood,

and do flood, despite our best

intentions?”

Coalition members attend City Council

Hearings in October. Karen Pilling

Coalition members Mariatu, Monique

Holland, Debbie Beer, and Carol Sim-

mons share a happy moment.

Photo by: Emily Wren

2


The FOHR annual membership

meeting took place on a beautiful

sunny Sunday, October 21st at the

refuge visitor center. About 50 peo-

ple participated in a hoagie and salad

brunch, before we adjourned to the

auditorium for the business portion

of the meeting,

Refuge Manager, Gary Stolz, up-

dated members on refuge business.

FOHR treasurer, Joe Pugh, then pre-

sented our annual financial report,

which painted a favorable financial

position for the group.

Elections of board members fol-

lowed, with current board members

Stanley Rapp, Annemarie Rapp, and

Jean Diehl being re-elected to the

board for 3 year terms. The mem-

bership also elected a new board

member, Ned Levi, for a 3 year term.

Jean Diehl then gave a power point

presentation highlighting the history,

birth and growth of the Heinz Ref-

uge and our Friends group.

The program was topped off with

the awarding of door prizes.

A quarterly publication of the Friends of

the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

Board of Directors Denis Brennan, President

Hank Hox, President Emeritus

Joe Pugh, Treasurer

Fran Miller, Secretary

Annemarie Rapp, Store Mgr.

Jean Diehl, Newsletter Editor

Jesse Smith, Webmaster

Debbie Beer

Chuck Lafferty

Ned Levi

Ron Miller

Stanley Rapp

Tom Reeves

The Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is a non-profit cooperating association founded in 1997 to assist the U. S. Fish &

Wildlife Service in carrying out its educational, interpretive, and

public use missions.

8601 Lindbergh Boulevard

Philadelphia, PA 19153

Contact email address:

[email protected]

Also find us on Facebook!!

Marsh MusingsMarsh MusingsMarsh Musings

The official registration and financial information of the Friends of the Heinz Refuge at Tinicum may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.

Volunteer Training Opportunity

Heinz Refuge Visitor Center

Sunday, Feb. 17 from 1-3pm

Basic Training

Learn about the refuge, the National Refuge System, and the US Fish &

Wildlife Service;

Learn about the many volunteer opportunities such as visitor reception-

ist, store clerk, roving ambassador, Weed Warriors, Trail Tamers, and

others that are available here.

* Call 215-365-3118 to reserve a spot.

Board Update

The FOHR annual report which

was passed out to all meeting

attendees, highlights FOHR’s ac-

complishments in the last year, and

outlined future plans as well.

Anyone who is interested and de-

sires a copy of the annual report may

obtain it through the Friends website,

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org.

Jean Diehl

To Our Members and

Friends

Friends of Heinz Refuge 2011 ~ 2012 Annual Report

Now available on our website:

www.friendsofheinzrefuge.org

3


Eastwick

(Continued from page 1)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to announce

the release of the final Comprehensive Conservation Plan

(CCP) for John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum.

We thank everyone who provided comments on our draft CCP/

Environmental Assessment (EA) released in March 2012. These com-

ments provided us with valuable information for preparing our final

document.

This CCP represents our 15-year management plan for the refuge.

The plan furthers the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Sys-

tem; provides direction to achieve the refuge’s purposes, vision, and

goals; and contributes to State and regional conservation plans. Im-

plementing the plan will help us to fulfill the refuge’s important role

in conserving and managing wildlife resources.

How to Access the Final Plan

You may view or download the final CCP from the planning Web

site: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/John%20Heinz/

ccphome.html. You may also request a printed copy or CD-ROM ver-

sion by contacting refuge management. Mariana Bergerson, FWS

Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan is Now Available!

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson con-

vened a City Council hearing to fo-

cus on flooding in Eastwick.

On October 9, 2012 over 100 East-

wick residents and supporters gath-

ered at City Hall to make their voices

heard about the environmental con-

ditions in Eastwick. Experts testified

as to outdated FEMA maps that u n -

derstated regional flood hazards, and

the need for myriad, complex studies

required before construction permits

could be issued. Residents painted a

powerful, compelling picture, testi-

fying about impromptu backyard

swimming pools that rise after even

mild rainfall, sinking streets, over-

flowing drains, and concerns about

toxic contaminants flowing from the

superfund site.

The Eastwick issue has caught the

attention of media, as well as Phila-

delphia City officials and lawmak-

ers. Councilman Johnson is on re-

cord saying that bills are not moving

forward anytime soon [that would

facilitate the development to pro-

ceed]. There is widespread agree-

ment that Eastwick’s flooding prob-

lems must be fixed, but when and

how that would occur remains uncer-

tain. For more information and up-

dates on Coalition activities, check

out our highly informational website: www.eastwickfriends.wordpress.com.

Debbie Beer

We are excited to announce that

the John Heinz National Wildlife

Refuge at Tinicum now has a

FaceBook Page!!

To keep abreast of the most current

refuge events, from rare bird sitings

and special events, to educational

and volunteer opportunities on the

refuge, we urge everyone to log in

and “friend” the refuge. Mariana Bergerson, FWS

News Flash!

Eastwick residents testify at Council

hearings. Photo by Karen Pilling

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/John%20Heinz/ccphome.html

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/John%20Heinz/ccphome.html

http://www.eastwickfriends.wordpress.com

4


Refuge Comprehensive Plan

The refuge Comprehensive Conser-

vation Plan (CCP), Habitat Manage-

ment Plan and Deer Management

Plan were all completed and ap-

proved this fall, and are now ready

for implementation (For more infor-

mation, see article on page 2) .

Development and Maintenance

The concrete surfacing has been

completed on the new outdoor pavil-

ion and a new matching green metal

roof added to the adjacent kiosk.

Funding has been locked in for the

new metal roof for the maintenance

shop and a contract has been

awarded for project completion this

winter. Additional funding was re-

cently obtained and contract awarded

for construction of kiosks on the

Delaware County side (west end) of

refuge that will be installed this fis-

cal year.

Engineering plans and permitting

for the a new 200 foot marsh board-

walk (at site of old photo blind along

Dike Road) are now complete and

“shovel ready” while we continue to

seek funding for installation. Design

work on the 55 acre wetland restora-

tion area is moving along and we

hope to start moving dirt next year.

The final phase of the solar panel

addition - which included updating

the exhibit in the visitor wing - is in

design phase and slated for comple-

tion this year.

Partnership Activities

Thanks to great partnerships with

PA Audubon, Delaware Valley Or-

nithological Club (DVOC) and the

Philadelphia Zoo we will be adding

new exhibit panels to interpret the

widow strike prevention additions on

visitor center glass. It is estimated

that one out of every five birds in

North America is killed by window

strikes. Just as many are killed every

year by feral, stray, and pet cats that

are allowed to roam outdoors. These

are very important conservation mes-

sages to share, and the new exhibits

will highlight ways that we can all

help protect birds that do so much to

help us by controlling insects, polli-

nating plants and blessing our world

with their unmatched beauty (For

more information, see page 13).

Mark Your Calendars—Lots of

Exciting Mid-Winter Activities

Coming Up (See Page 7 for details)

Please mark your calendars and

join us for refuge special events this

winter including the annual Winter

Bird Count for Kids and Groundhog

Day Winter Festival. Remember to

bring your friends and families on

out to enjoy the Refuge’s many other

free programs offered every week-

end and discover new ways to con-

nect back with nature on your Na-

tional Wildlife Refuge System….

where wildlife comes naturally.

Flora and Fauna Update

As the last colorful autumn leaves

are still rustling with the breezes, we

are fast approaching another winter

season here at John Heinz NWR.

Thanks to the great work of our field

staff in biology and maintenance and

the never ending dedication of weed

warrior volunteers, wildlife habitat

on the refuge has never looked better

to support our native fauna through

their toughest time of year. The 145

acre impoundment is now chock full

of high protein sedges that are feed-

ing a wide array of puddle ducks and

even an occasional rail.

Pennsylvania state listed birds in-

cluding American and least bitterns

as well as great egrets, eagles, os-

preys and peregrines have been regu-

lar guests this year along with count-

less shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors

and songbirds that depend on the

refuge as an important stepping

stone along the Atlantic Flyway.

By Gary Stolz

American Wigeons pick food from the

surface of shallow ponds and marshes,

or graze gooselike in open fields; all

habitats we have at the Heinz Refuge.

Their flight is agile, in compact groups

or uneven lines.

Photo by: Ann Reeves

This map shows the important flyways

used by migratory birds as they traverse

the United States twice each year. Note

that the eastern flyway divides at the

Delaware Bay and tracks northward

crossing the Heinz Refuge; a primary

resting and feeding spot.

5


PA Young Birders engages kids

with exciting birding and nature pro-

grams at Heinz Refuge. We are as-

sisting Refuge staff with integrating

birding into science-based studies,

to students from Eastwick’s Pepper

Middle School, and connecting kids

to birds with special events.

The BIG SIT on October 14 at-

tracted over a dozen keen-eyed

young observers who joined Heinz

Refuge “Big Sittas” in counting

birds from dawn to dusk. Ten-year

old PA Young Birder Kit Conklin

discovered a rarely-seen Sora that

day, a life bird for many at the Big

Sit!

Upcoming PA Young Birder

events include the third annual

“Winter Bird Count for Kids” on

Saturday, January 5, from 8 am to

Wings In the City

Connecting Kids to Birds noon. Last year, several dozen kids

came out on an unseasonably warm

day to enjoy eagles, hawks, mergan-

sers, Rusty Blackbirds, kinglets,

creepers and the afternoon highlight

– hot pizza! (generously provided

by the Friends of Heinz Refuge). On

Saturday, February 16, families

are invited to participate in the

Great Backyard Bird Count at

Heinz Refuge, starting at 9 am, in

Philadelphia’s wildest backyard!

PA Young Birders offers a great

way to connect kids to nature at

Heinz Refuge. If you know a young

person who might enjoy getting out-

side and learning about birds, bring

them to the next PAYB event.

Group leaders may contact us at pay-

[email protected] to organize

outings. Adrian Binns

Christmas Bird Count at the Heinz Refuge The annual Christmas Bird Count

(CBC) began over 100 years ago,

organized by Frank Chapman and a

small group of people who were con-

cerned about declining numbers of

birds. They decided that counting

birds was better than shooting them,

which was a popular Christmas tra-

dition at the time.

The CBC has evolved to become

the most important citizen-science

initiative in history, engaging thou-

sands of volunteers and collecting

millions of pieces of data across the

country.

As the longest-running wildlife

monitoring project, the CBC pro-

vides critically-important informa-

tion for scientists, naturalists, stu-

dents and law-makers. Data from

the CBC documented the decline of

raptors from the toxic pesticide

DDT, and led to it’s eventual ban in

the early 1970’s. CBC results reflect

environmental health and trends,

evidenced by avian activity and dis-

tribution.

Christmas Bird Counts are con-

ducted annually, during a 3-week

period from mid-December through

early January. CBC compilers mobi-

lize volunteers to survey specific

areas, and quantify individual birds.

Data is compiled, reviewed, and sub-

mitted to National Audubon Society

and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to

be included in the massive CBC da-

tabase.

The John Heinz National Wildlife

Refuge, covered by the Glenolden

CBC circle, serves as one of the

most important Christmas Bird

Count locations in the state. Expert

birders, including many longtime

refuge volunteers, will conduct the

CBC at Heinz Refuge in late Decem-

ber. Look for warmly-dressed bird-

ers with clipboards, on December

15th, and wish them luck on the

CBC! For more information about

the CBC, or get involved in your

area, check website: http://

birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-

count. Debbie Beer

White Throated Sparrow.

by Scott Kemper

Reconnecting kids to nature!!.

Photos by Adrian Binns

mailto:[email protected]


http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count



6


Program Descriptions

Bird walks last 2—3

hours and are suitable for all

levels of birders. Weather

dependent. Binoculars are

available at front desk.

Story Time is best for

children ages 4 to 7.

Nature Explorers

includes a short program

and walk. The program is

best for children 8 to 12.

Flower Walks Dick

Cloud leads walks in all

seasons looking at plants.

Trail Tamers Join the

maintenance volunteers

for a good workout!

Generally 3 hours long.

*Call 215 365-3118 to save your seat

Holiday Closings

Refuge buildings will be

closed on:

Tuesday, December 25,

Tuesday, January 1,

Monday, January 21,

Monday, February 18,

Wednesday, February 20,

Thursday, February 21.

The grounds are open

from sunrise to sunset

every day.

December

1 Beginners Bird Walk 9am Mary Ellen Krober

2 Late Fall Birds 9am Edie Parnum

8 Birds, Trees, and Flowers 9am Tom Reeves

Trail Tamers 9am

Winter Plant Forms 1pm Dick Cloud

9 Winter Birding 9am Gregg Gorton

Volunteer Party and Open House* 1-3pm

Nature Explorers - Winter 2pm

15 Early Winter Birding 9am Debbie Beer

Story Time - Winter 1pm

16 Who’s Still Here? 9am Barb Hiebsch

22 Holiday Birds 9am Cliff Hence

29 Post Holiday Birding 9am Lynn Roman

January

5 Birding Resolution Walk 9am Mary Ellen Krober

Winter Bird Count for Kids 8am PA Young Birders

6 Cold Birds 9am Barb Hiebsch

12 Birds, Trees, and Flowers 9am Tom Reeves

Trail Tamers 9am

Midwinter Plants 1pm Dick Cloud


Nature Explorers – Birds’ Nests 2pm

19 Mid-Winter Birds 9am Robert Confer

Story Time – Birds’ Nests 1pm

20 Winter Birding 9am Cliff Hence

26 Chilly Birds 9am Debbie Beer

27 Any Snow Birds Around? 9am Lynn Roman

February

2 Will the Birds See Their Shadow? 9am Lynn Roman

Ground Hog Day Family Festival 9am-1pm Friends of Heinz Refuge

9 Late Winter Birding 9am Debbie Beer

Trail Tamers 9am

Late Winter Plants 1pm Dick Cloud

10 Tinicum’s Winter Birds 9am Cliff Hence

Nature Explorers 2pm Ground Hog Fun!


Family Great Backyard Bird Count 9am PA Young Birders

Story Time - Ground Hogs 1pm

17 Late Winter Birds 9am Edie Parnum

Volunteer Training – Basic Training* 1-3pm

23 Late Winter Birding 9am Cliff Hence

Winter 2012 ~ 2013 Program

7


Volunteer Holiday Party and Open House*

Sunday, Dec. 9 from 1-3pm

Join us as we celebrate our volunteers and all the wonderful things they do for the refuge. Thinking about

volunteering? Come talk to current volunteers who share your interests and learn about what they love to

do here. Light refreshments and raffle.

*Call 215 365-3118 and let us know you’ll be here!

Winter Bird Count

For Kids

Saturday, January 5th

8 am - noon

Free fun for the family!! Kids

get to learn how to count birds

like an expert. Discover the

birds who winter at the refuge,

then follow up with a hot pizza

lunch. Binoculars are available

for loan.

Groundhog Day Family Festival

Saturday, February 2nd

9 am till 1 pm

Begin the day with a “Groundhog Walk” at 9 AM

Followed by indoor fun beginning at 10 AM

Sing along, or dance to live music

Engage in day-long crafts for kids

Delight in groundhog games and activities

Enjoy light refreshments

Visit our gift-shop for groundhog goodies

Meet animals from the Philadelphia Zoo

Join a Parade to Tinicum Tim’s Burrow

Discover fun facts about the Heinz Refuge’s special

Groundhog Family, “Tinicum Tim” his wife “Tina”,

and their kids – “Tinicum Twins”

Will “Tinicum Tim” see his shadow?

Join the celebration to find out!

Celebrate Winter at the Heinz Refuge

With Special Family Fun Activities

Great Backyard Bird

Count at Heinz Refuge

Saturday, February 16th

9 am - noon

Take part in this FREE annual

event that compiles bird counts

from across the country to cre-

ate a winter snapshot of bird

populations. Enter your data

online, then view maps, graphs,

and summaries, and find out

what scientists are learning

from your results.

8


Ever watch a child “flower”?

The budding relationship between

the John Heinz National Wildlife

Refuge at Tinicum and the Widener

Partnership Charter School (WPCS)

continues to develop with the expan-

sion of the school. Late last year,

WPCS received approval to add a

STEM (Science, Technology, Engi-

neering & Math) based middle

school, good timing as the school

had started construction on a new

large addition! So, with the ringing

of the opening school bell, 7th grade

students were welcomed into the

school. In November, these students,

many of whom have been coming to

the refuge for years, will begin their

investigation of water quality issues

with a Micro Adventures lesson.

Good things come to those who

wait…

Many of you know that the refuge

has a strong partnership with the In-

terboro School District. Field trips to

the refuge were written into the

K – 5 science curricula several years

ago. Recently, the district was

awarded a large “Keystone Educa-

tion” grant. This grant will provide

the district with resources needed to

align the high school curriculum to

the new Keystone exams. Students

exiting all Pennsylvania high schools

will need to pass these exams as part

of their graduation.

A science curriculum meeting on

integrating field trips to the refuge

with curriculum was held recently, in

an effort to help science teachers

meet eligible content. All parties

agreed and plans were made to bring

several high school classes to the

refuge in 2013 .

Erika Scarborough, FWS

Partnership Between Refuge & Area Schools/Districts Expand

As we celebrate the 20th anniver-

sary of the Junior Duck Stamp Con-

servation & Design Program we are

excited to announce the debut of the

2012 Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Pro-

gram Educator Guide and Youth

Guide.

For the first time in many years,

the JDS Program has redesigned its

arts and science curriculum, modern-

izing it to make it more relevant to

today's teachers and students. The

new curriculum will spark youth in-

terest in habitat conservation through

science, art, math and technology.

Written, field-tested and evaluated

by environmental educators, biolo-

gists, teachers and consultants, the

new curriculum includes such ele-

ments as using the Internet as a con-

servation tool and new scientific in-

formation about today's conservation

challenges (e.g., climate change and

its impact on wetland habitat). It is

multi-culturally relevant and incor-

porates information to stimulate stu-

dents' interest in careers in nature.

In addition, for the first time, we

will offer conservation education

tools designed for use by

homeschoolers and by those in

charge of community after school

programs and various other youth

activities. These guides will be re-

leased later this year.

The re-designed curriculum, aimed

at students in grades 5-8, will en-

courage children to engage with their

natural world and develop a deeper

appreciation of natural resources. It

stresses wildlife observation, nature

journaling, photography, enjoying

and exploring the outside world, and

investigating the treasures of the Na-

tional Wildlife Refuge System.

The new curriculum and activities

meet National Science Education

Content Standards, North American

Association for Environmental Edu-

cation (NAAEE) Guidelines for

Learning, and National Visual Arts

education standards for children in

grades K-12.

John Heinz National Wildlife Ref-

uge at Tinicum serves as the collec-

tion and judging site for Pennsyl-

vania entrants. All contest entries

must be postmarked by March 15th

in order to be eligible. For more in-

formation about the new curriculum

and contest please log in to http://

www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ or con-

tact the refuge.

Mariana Bergerson FWS

New Junior Duck Stamp Educational Curriculum is Here!

Widener Partnership Charter School

second grade students share a learning

experience in the woods on the Heinz

Refuge. Photo by: Jean Diehl

http://www.fws.gov/refuges

http://www.fws.gov/refuges

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4962

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4962

http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/guidelines/posts/Excellence-in-Environmental-Education-Guidelines-for-Learning-K-12




http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/standards.aspx



http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck

http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck

9


Excitement Abounds as Pollinator Garden Activities Expand

The Kindergarten Interpretive

Pollinator Garden at the Heinz Ref-

uge is completing its second growing

season. This green space, located

adjacent to the small volunteer con-

tact station (VCS), was built and

planted by students and teachers

from Longstreth Elementary School,

and has become an awe inspiring

“first-stop” destination for many

families and others as they begin

their visit to the John Heinz National

Wildlife Refuge. Our award-

winning garden is the result of a col-

laborative effort between The

Friends of Heinz Refuge, The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Penn

State Master Gardeners, the Pennsyl-

vania Horticultural Society, and

Longstreth Elementary School in

west Philadelphia.

This collaboration resulted in a

Nature of Learning Grant from the

National Fish and Wildlife Founda-

tion to create this outdoor classroom

and laboratory. The grant also pro-

vided funds for the construction of a

native plant nursery in the school-

yard at Longstreth Elementary. We

are proud to announce that work has

been completed on the schoolyard

planting beds. The schoolyard na-

tive plant nursery will become a

source of plant material for other

schools in both Philadelphia and

Delaware Counties, as well as the

Longstreth Neighborhood. Planning

is also under way to supply targeted

native plants to the refuge’s Weed

Warrior program as they work to

remove rampant invasives and re-

store native habitat. A primary goal

of our pollinator garden project mas-

ter plan is to encourage the creation

of pollinator habitat islands through-

out the School District of Philadel-

phia.

The students of the Radnor Middle

School Watershed Program and the

Longstreth First Graders in teacher

Chuck Lafferty’s class will be con-

tinuing their Partnership which

started this past spring. The Radnor

students will act as buddies and men-

tors to the Longstreth students. Their

teachers’ plan is for their students to

work together on maintaining the

pollinator Garden at the Refuge as

well as working jointly to promote

the use of native pollinator plants in

home landscapes. Students will be

making trips to each other’s schools

as well. The two schools are working

on a plan to create an exhibit which

they hope to show at the PHS Phila-

delphia Flower Show. The exhibit

would detail their collaborative ef-

forts to explore area watersheds and

the importance of native pollinator

plants in habitat restoration for

healthy bio-diversity.

Story and Photos by: Chuck Lafferty

FOHR Board Members are proud

to present an updated version of the

Heinz Refuge Award. Originally

designed to closely follow scouting

badge requirements, the award is

now available not only to scouts, but

also to all children who wish to

know the refuge better. The award

also provides an opportunity for chil-

dren to perform volunteer activities

as part of the badge requirements.

The updated brochures may be

obtained at the front desk in the visi-

tor’s center, or by downloading a

copy from the refuge website

www.fws.gov/heinz. FWS staff will

distribute awards when presented

with a request form signed by the

supervising adult. Donations to

cover the cost of the badge are re-

quested.

For more information, please call

215-365-3118.

Jean Diehl

Heinz Refuge Award Now Available to All Interested Kids

Students at work constructing native

plant beds in Longstreth schoolyard.

Radnor Middle School Students work

with Longstreth students at refuge

pollinator garden.

10


FOHR’s 12th Annual Photo Contest ~ A Stunning Success

This year marked the 12th annual FOHR Photo Contest at John Heinz

NWR. Jurors Ann Reeves, Raini Holmes, & Susan Rachlin worked hard

sorting through over 100 photos to choose this year’s winners. Ribbons

were awarded to 14 photographers in three categories: Adults, Teens, and

Children, with contest results being announced to a crowded room at the

Cradle of Birding Festival on September 15th. Colleen McCubbin Stepanic

Allen Schiavani’s “Snow Geese” won

second prize in the Adult Category

Connor Adams’s stunning portrait of a

brilliant “Hibiscus” took 3rd place in

the Children’s category.

Anastasia Kauffman was awarded 1st

place in the Teen category for her

photo entitled “Green Frogs”.

Chris McCoun took home the second

place teen prize for his “Barn Swallow.”

James Hornickle won the children’s 1st

place with his great close-up shot of

this “Praying Mantis”.

Grace Hornickle took 2nd place Chil-

dren’s category for “Limbo Duck”.

John & Andy Shallow captured Teens

3rd place with their “Red-tailed Hawk

and Rabbit” photo.

Frances Ventura’s spectacular photo;

“Barred Owls” took 1st place in the

adult category.

Harris Brown’s “Snowy Egret” took 3rd

place and also won the prestigious

“Buchanan Award of Excellence”.

11


Photo Group News

Compiled by Ned Levi

Committee Chair, Colleen Stepanic,

and the entire Photo Group Contest

Committee for their dedicated work

over the last year to make the contest

a reality for nature and wildlife pho-

tographers throughout the Greater

Philadelphia Region.

In October, the Big Sit was held

from pre-dawn to dusk and Photo

Group members were there. If you

missed this wonderful event, in

which birds are observed, photo-

graphed, and counted, strictly from

the top level of the observation deck

of the Refuge, at the impoundment,

all day, please participate with us

next year.

New workshops are on the

drawing board. With the success

of our wildlife photography work-

shop earlier this year, we hope to

plan new workshops for both nature

photography beginners and more

advanced photographers in 2013.

Nature Photography walks

will be added to the spring walk

schedule. As most people are al-

ready aware, refuge volunteers lead

bird/wildflower/tree walks virtually

every Saturday and Sunday through-

out the year. The photo group plans

to add two walks to this lineup. On

these walks, experienced photogra-

The Friends of Heinz Refuge Photo

Group has been very busy in recent

months.

We have had great fun on

field trips. We’ve just completed a

one day trip to Bombay Hook NWR

located in Smyrna, Delaware. De-

spite some damage from Superstorm

Sandy, the refuge was able to reopen

after the storm ended. This 13,100

acre tidal salt marsh provides an ex-

cellent sanctuary for birds and mam-

mals, as well as great wildlife view-

ing and photographic opportunities.

In December, we’ve scheduled an

early morning trip to the Conowingo

Dam, located in Maryland, on the

Susquehanna River. The Dam at-

tracts large numbers of bald eagles

from late November through mid

December. In addition to the Eagles,

great blue herons, black-crowned

night herons, black vultures, terns,

osprey, cormorants, anhingas, and

ducks may also be seen.

We have a wonderful time vol-

unteering. Of course, as a service

organization of the Friends, we have

been hard at work, documenting

many of the recent events at the Ref-

uge. This past September when the

Refuge held its annual Cradle of

Birding Festival, we were there from

early morning through late after-

noon. It was a wonderful day with

hundreds of participants coming to

the Refuge, and just as many photo-

graphic opportunities.

A Photo Group highlight event

also took place on the afternoon of

the Cradle of Birding Festival; the

Photo Group announced the winners

of the Friends of Heinz Refuge An-

nual Photography Contest, and

awarded ribbons and prizes to the

winners in its three age categories, in

the auditorium of the Visitor Center.

The Friends wish to thank Photo

Refuge Photographers at Work and Play

phers will discuss and practice both

basic and advanced nature and gen-

eral photography techniques. They

will also discuss equipment, expo-

sure, and any topic in which our

walkers might be interested.

If there is enough community inter-

est in the new photography walks,

we will expand the number of walks

held during the year.

The Photo Group is open to

any member of the Friends of

the Heinz Refuge. We welcome

photographers of any skill level

from beginners, all the way to pro-

fessional 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 each year.

We have a lot fun volunteering at

the Refuge, learning about photog-

raphy and 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 quarterly

on the 3rd Sunday of January,

April, July, and October, at 10am,

in the Visitor Center at the Refuge.

The next meeting of the Photo

Group will be held on January 20,

2013.

If you’re interested in joining the

Photo Group, attending a nature

photography workshop, or a Na-

ture Photography Walk, or any

other Photo Group Activity, please

contact us at : jhnwrpho-

[email protected].

An egret and turtle share a moment.

Photo by: Karen McCunney



12


Sunday, October 14, 2012 marked

the fourth BIG SIT at Heinz Refuge,

and a wonderful day of birds, friends

and visitors. I, along with fellow

volunteers, Adrian Binns and Todd

Fellenbaum, arrived at 4:30 AM to

set-up on the top deck of the Obser-

vation Tower in pre-dawn darkness.

Well, not so dark, as lights from the

nearby airport and highway 95 illu-

minated ample

waterfowl activ-

ity in the south

end of the im-

p o u n d m e n t .

Our BIG SIT

location pro-

vides access to a

variety of refuge

habitats – open

water, freshwa-

ter marsh, tidal

Darby Creek,

and wooded

wetlands – which host an impressive

diversity of bird species. The BIG

SIT is a friendly, non-competitive

event, but of course we hoped to top

last year's list of 77 species!

Canada Goose was first bird heard,

along with several species of water-

fowl and Great Blue Heron. Ruddy

Ducks and Northern Shovelers were

picked out by silhouette. Two Great

Horned Owls began calling at 5:42

AM, and continued for about 40

minutes.

As daylight emerged, the birding

ramped up, with new species added

to our list every few minutes, by

sight or sound: sparrows, towhee,

kingfisher, blackbirds, teal, coot and

wigeon.

The lone Snow Goose that had

been seen all summer was duly

ticked - the first of 12 new species

not found on any previous Big Sits at

Heinz Refuge. American Bittern

was another new species, heard

'whomping' early morning; the same

one that was seen by many people

the previous day. Ten-year old PA

Young Birder Kit Conklin spotted a

j u v e n i l e

S o r a

w a l k i n g

right be-

neath our

Observa-

t i o n

Tower - a

life look

for many.

A d r i a n

s c o p e d

S p o t t e d

and Soli-

tary Sand-

pipers, and Todd's keen ears heard a

Winter Wren. A lone American

Pipit flew over our heads giving his

namesake call.

The "Big Sittas" of Heinz Refuge

were delighted to host American

Birding Associa-

t i on (ABA)

President and

'first lady' Jeff

and Liz Gordon,

who made Heinz

their first stop on

a whirlwind tour

of Big Sits in

P e n n s y l v a n i a

and Delaware,

highlighting the

importance of

National Wild-

life Refuges. Liz spotted a perched

Red-shouldered Hawk, the first of 10

raptors on our list. We enjoyed about

a dozen sightings of Bald Eagles

soaring over the impoundment,

along with kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine

Falcon, and one late migrating Os-

prey.

Yellow-rumped Warblers aside,

land birds proved to be the greatest

challenge, with 2 days of calm,

southerly winds. We got a Palm

Warbler at 9am, a Ruby-crowned

Kinglet pushed into view at mid-day,

and Pine Warbler turned out to be

our last species, at 3:42 pm. We

ended a little before 6 pm, tying last

year’s number of 77 bird species.

Our cumulative list stands at 107

species for all 4 Big Sits at Heinz

Refuge (2012, 2011, 2010, 2007), an

impressive number for the largest

urban refuge, in the 5th largest city

in the nation!

About 120 people joined the BIG

SIT throughout the day. Some were

keen birders, others were curious

about the crowd. All enjoyed a

friendly welcome and pointing out of

swallows, ducks, eagles, or gulls.

The Friends of Heinz Refuge or-

ganized the Big Sit, and raised funds

for the organization, which supports

Heinz Refuge. I'm inspired by the

generosity of many friends and visi-

tors. A big

T H A N K

YOU to all

who have do-

nated. You

can still send

in your check

to “Friends of

Heinz Ref-

uge,” and in-

dicate “Big

Sit” on the

memo line.

We found a

total of 77

species, if donating by species.

Thanks again to all the friends and

supporters who helped make the BIG

SIT a big success!

Big Sit Highlights Refuge Avian Diversity

Reflections of a Bird Walk Leader

by Debbie Beer

Soras, usually found in freshwater marsh

habitats are usually quite secretive.

Photo by: Colleen

Deputy refuge manager, Mariana Bergerson,

joins the fun. Photo by: Debbie Beer

13


A Clear Danger to Birds! New

Refuge Exhibit Planned to

Teach Visitors about the Sec-

ond Greatest Threat to Birds

after Habitat Destruction

Researchers estimate that up to one

billion birds collide with glass on

buildings each year in North Amer-

ica, making collisions with glass the

second greatest threat to many birds,

trailing only habitat destruction.

Most collisions occur during

periods when birds are migrating.

The total number of collisions that

occur on residential structures are

believed to exceed the total that oc-

cur on commercial structures.

Birds see sky and landscape re-

flected on the glass like a mirror: the

glass is not seen as a barrier. Glass

that appears transparent also poses a

serious hazard because birds are of-

ten unable to detect it. To prevent

these deadly collisions, glass must be

made visible to birds.

Bird-Friendly Glass Demon-

stration Project

Buildings are being constructed

with larger and larger amounts of

external glass. While there are many

advantages to this construction

technique, the increasing use of glass

also poses a deadly hazard for birds.

John Heinz National Wildlife Ref-

uge has partnered with several

organizations to showcase a variety

of treatments in our visitor center

that homeowners, architects, contrac-

tors and planners can use to make

buildings less hazardous for birds.

Mariana Bergerson, FWS

Window Glass ~ A Clear Danger to Birds!

What You Can Do to Help:

Place bird feeders either very

close to or very far from win-

dows and avoid placing them

near windows with reflective

glass.

Keep blinds partially open to

form striped pattern birds will

be less likely to fly into.

Cover glass with collision pre-

vention film.

As a temporary fix create dense

free form patterns on outside of

glass windows with tempera

paint.

Use tape to create vertical or

horizontal stripes several inches

apart on outside of glass.

Hang strands of cord or twine

every 4 1/4" apart in front of

windows.

Mount taut netting or screen

several inches in front of glass.

Design with less glass

(reflective glass is especially

dangerous).

Use bird-safe glass.

Bald Eagles Begin Nesting Cycle Again

As revelers prepare to herald the

New Year with pledges and predic-

tions, the Bald Eagles at John Heinz

NWR begin their age-old nesting

cycle again. For the fourth consecu-

tive season, Bald Eagles will be stak-

ing territory, carrying sticks to the

nest, and following the instinct to

reproduce. In the cold winter

months, defoliated trees make it

easier to observe their giant-size

nest, nestled over 70 feet up in the

crook of the tallest tree on Oak Is-

land. By early February, the female

Bald Eagle should have laid an egg

or two, which the pair will take turns

incubating, non-stop for 35 days.

Birders, photographers and nature

enthusiasts will look eagerly for the

eagles flying around, catching fish,

or sitting on the nest. In June 2012,

one healthy Bald Eagle successfully

fledged from the nest. As the health

of our waterways improves, so do

the chances for Bald Eagles and

other water-dependent species. We

are all eager to see how the 2013

season will unfold for Philadelphia’s

most famous eagles, the flying kind! Debbie Beer

Bill Buchanan

Look closely at the glass inside the visi-

tor center ~ can you tell which glass

panels are bird friendly and which are

not? Maybe you can’t, but the birds

can. Photo by: Adrian Binns

14


What unique gift can you choose

for that special person on you gift

list this year? You might consider

the purchase of a really distinctive

gift, which also provides a vital tool

for wetland conservation—a Fed-

eral Duck Stamp!!

Tinicum Treasure Tales As Told By Our Store Manager,

Annemarie Rapp

We are always in need of

volunteers to help in the

shop …. If you can spare

any time, please call Anne-

marie & Stan Rapp at our

home number: (610) 485-

7378 and leave a message, or

leave your name and phone

number with Fish & Wildlife

personnel at the reception

desk in the Cusano Environ-

mental Education Center.

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!!

Some Thoughtful Gift Ideas For the Holiday

Ninety-eight cents out of every

dollar generated by federal duck

stamp sales goes directly to purchase

or lease wetland habitat for protec-

tion in the National Wildlife Refuge

System. Besides serving as a hunt-

ing license and a conservation tool, a

Federal Duck Stamp also serves as

an entrance pass for National Wild-

life Refuges where an admission fee

is normally charged.

Choosing to purchase a Federal

Duck Stamp is a bargain (for both

your loved one AND wildlife) at

only $15.00 a piece.

Hurry on in—we only have a few

left in stock!

As you know, the Refuge’s highly

popular mid-winter celebration of

Groundhog Day is just around the

corner. So what could be a better

gift for that young one in your fam-

ily than a very special coloring book

that tells all about groundhogs in

general, and our own Tinicum Tim

in particular?

Created by local artist, Arline Link,

the coloring book entitled “A

Groundhog Family Story” narrates

the life history of groundhogs, & is

a “must have” for the younger set!!

Avid outdoors enthusiasts

might sometimes chafe at being

forced indoors on blustery win-

ter days. We suggest that you

might use this time to begin

“thinking spring”. Take a look

around your yard to decide

whether or not some new bird-

houses will enhance your wild-

life friendly habitat.

Then, come in and browse

amongst the many reasonably

priced birdhouse styles we have

on hand. Select one (or more) to

take home—and you will have a

jump start on the upcoming

spring season!!

Winter is Best Time to

Plan Spring Activities

Meet The Heinz Refuge’s Famous Groundhogs

“Tinicum Tim” and His Family

15


Join or Renew your Friends of the Heinz Refuge Membership This is a (please check) [ ] new [ ] renewal [ ] gift membership.

Please choose your preferred membership level from the following list :

[ ] $10 Duckling (Student/Senior)

[ ] $15 Heron (Individual)

[ ] $25 Monarch (Family)

[ ] $50 Red-bellied Turtle (Group)

[ ] $100 Red Fox (Contributing)

[ ] $250 Merlin (Sustaining)

[ ] $500 Osprey (Corporate)

[ ] $ __________ Donation

[ ] I wish to be notified when I can access the

newsletter online.

[ ] I want to keep up with the latest news. Please put me on the list for monthly e-bulletins.

[ ] Please contact me about potential volunteer opportunities.

Membership supports conservation of the largest fresh water tidal marsh in Pennsylvania and entitles you to attend member only

events and a 10% discount at gift shops operated by Friends of National Wildlife Refuges in the Mid Atlantic. If you give us your

email address, we will email you (no more than monthly) with reminders of upcoming events and when the newsletter is posted to

our website. We do not share your information with any other organizations.

Make checks payable to FOHR Tinicum and mail to FOHR, PO Box 333, Folcroft PA, 19032-0333, or bring to the refuge next time you visit.

Report Violations

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

John Heinz N.W.R. at Tinicum (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

The public can go to front desk of the Cusano Environ-

mental Education and Visitor Center at the John Heinz

National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum and borrow rods,

reels and a tackle box full of hooks and other terminal

tackle. This equipment is borrowed in much the same way

books are borrowed from a library. The Visitor Center

hours are from 8:30am to 4:00pm. Other tackle loan sites

can be found on the PA Fish and Boat Commission’s web

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

This program is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Fish and

Boat Commission, the American Sportfishing Association, and the

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. The program is

designed to make it easy for anyone to access fishing tackle. It's

hoped that those making the loans will enjoy fishing so much they

are hooked for life. This equipment may also be loaned to groups

conducting angler education programs in the community.

Name ______________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _______________________________________________

Phone ______________________________________________________

Email ______________________________________________________

16


Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum

PO Box 333

Folcroft, PA 19032-0333

Non Profit Org

U.S. Postage

Paid

Permit 45

Havertown, PA 19083

Return Service Requested

Last year refuge volunteers, working hand in hand with refuge staff, donated almost 5,336 hours of their

precious time to the Heinz Refuge. This equates to volunteers donating $166,266 to the refuge, and is the equiva-

lent of salaries for 2.6 full time refuge employees at grade level 5. Volunteers spent hours photographing refuge

events and documenting wildlife sitings, doing habitat restoration, and helping to maintain trails, benches and board-

walks. They sponsored environmental education programs and events for hundreds of urban children and adults, led

guided walks, mentored students on field trips, staffed the visitor’s center front desk, and helped out in the store.

Hats Off to Refuge Volunteers !

FOHR BOARD MEETINGS : The public is always welcome to attend Board Meetings, which are at 6:30 pm

in the Visitor Center ~ 4th Tuesday of the Month.

Put Yourself Into This Picture

Become a Refuge Volunteer

Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Trail Tamer/Weed Warrior Photo Group Member

Store Clerk Front Desk Receptionist

Walk Leader Environmental Education Aide

(For more information on signing up to be a volunteer and for training, see page 2)

Newsletter of the Friends of Heinz Refuge at Tinicum Marsh ... Marsh Musings Winter 2012 Marsh...

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