John HeinzNational Wildlife Refugeat Tinicum

U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Philadelphia skyline with the refuge in the foregroundJohn and Karen Hollingsworth

Volunteers Volunteers help welcome visitors,maintain trails, staff the visitor centerand gift shop, conduct nature walks,assist school groups, help with biologyprograms, and many other vital tasks.If you would like to help out, call thevisitor center for more information.

U.S. Fish andWildlife Service

Bill Buchanan/USFWS

John Heinz National Wildlife Refugeat Tinicum is one of more than 548refuges in the National WildlifeRefuge System administered by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. TheNational Wildlife Refuge System is anetwork of lands and waters managedspecifically for the protection ofwildlife and wildlife habitat andrepresents the most comprehensivewildlife management program in theworld. Units of the system stretchacross the United States fromnorthern Alaska to the Florida Keysand include small islands in theCaribbean and South Pacific. Therefuges are as diverse as the nationitself. The mission of the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service is working withothers to conserve, protect andenhance fish, wildlife, plants and theirhabitats for the continuing benefit ofthe American people. We are both aleader and trusted partner in fish andwildlife conservation, known for ourscientific excellence, stewardship oflands and natural resources, dedicatedprofessionals and commitment topublic service. For more informationabout our work and the people whomake it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum8601 Lindbergh BoulevardPhiladelphia, PA 19153215/365 3118 Phone, 215/365 2846 Faxhttp://heinz.fws.gov

Federal Relay Service for the deafand hard-of-hearing 1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDhttp://www.fws.gov

June 2008

This blue goose, designedby J.N. “Ding” Darling,has become the symbol ofthe National WildlifeRefuge System.

Welcome The John Heinz National WildlifeRefuge at Tinicum protects thelargest remaining freshwater tidalmarsh in Pennsylvania. This marsh isa vital feeding and resting place forbirds migrating along the AtlanticFlyway. The refuge also providesdiverse habitats for a wide range ofwildlife, from deer to butterflies andfish to eagles.The refuge provides a welcome breakfrom the busy urban setting of themetropolitan Philadelphia area andenvironmental education opportunitiesto thousands of area students.

The refuge is an outdoor classroom for thousands ofstudents each year.

Ned Connelly/USFWS

Great Blue Heron Bill Buchanan/USFWS

“Those who dwellamong the beautiesand mysteries of theearth are never aloneor weary of life.”

Rachel Carson

Swallowtail butterfly feeding

on milkweed. Jean Diehl/USFWS

“Those who dwellamong the beautiesand mysteries of theearth are never aloneor weary of life.”

Rachel Carson

The Past, thePresent, and theFuture

Marshes as far as the eye could see,nearly 6,000 acres, supportedgenerations of Lenape Indians. Theyfound plentiful food, water, andshelter here, living comfortably byfishing, hunting, and gathering. Theycalled this place Tennakon Minquas.The name was condensed over time to“Tinicum”, roughly meaning, “islandsof the marsh”.The marshes were drained and filledto provide grazing and farming landby European settlers arriving in themid 1600s. As the years passed, moreand more marsh was drained andfilled to support the growingPhiladelphia region. By the 1950s,thousands of acres of marsh haddwindled to only 200 acres. When thislast remaining piece was threatenedby the construction of Interstate 95 inthe 1960s, local citizens, whocherished the marsh and appreciatedits beauty and ecological importance,said “Enough!” They began acampaign to save Tinicum Marsh. Thefight took them all the way toWashington, D.C. There, with the helpof several members of Congress, theywere successful in having I-95 re-routed.In 1972, the area was declared anational wildlife refuge, to preserve,restore, and protect Tinicum Marsh,to provide environmental education

for students, and to provide the publicwith an area to view and study nativewildlife in its natural habitat. Therefuge was named after Senator JohnHeinz in 1991 to honor hiscommitment to the refuge.Today, the refuge’s nearly 1,000 acresof woods, pond, marsh, and meadoware dedicated to wildlife conservationand the environment. Refuge landsprovide habitat for many species,especially migratory birds. Inaddition to the many wildlife speciesthat benefit from the living marshlands, people also benefit from thishealthier environment.Education is a key component to thefuture of the birds and other wildlife.Thousands of local school childrencome to the refuge each year toexplore nature in their neighborhood.Countless other visitors come to learnabout the natural world as well as tofind relaxation, peaceful surroundings,and a sense of well being. All of us play vital roles in thepreservation of places like this forfuture generations to enjoy. Humaninterest in providing homes forwildlife is evident by the creation andprotection of refuges such as JohnHeinz National Wildlife Refuge atTinicum, part of our larger NationalWildlife Refuge System.

Celebratinggrassroots efforts

to save vital wetlands. B

ill Buchanan/USFWS

A restored section of Tinicum Marsh.

Bill Buchanan/USFWS

The late SenatorJohn Heinz wasinstrumental in

protecting parts ofTinicum Marsh.

In 1991, the refugewas renamed in

his honor. Bill Buchanan/USFWS

“All the flowers of allthe tomorrows are inthe seeds of today.”

Chinese Proverb

The fields and woods of the refugeare home to many species includingdeer, fox, raccoons, butterflies, andmany birds. Native wildflowers suchas bee balms, brown-eyed susans, andmilkweeds attract butterfliesthroughout the summer and fall.Juncos and sparrows feed on theseeds throughout the winter.The refuge staff manages the land tobenefit wildlife. Projects includerestoring wetlands, removing invasivespecies, planting native species,mowing fields, and adjusting thewater level in the impoundment.Many species are monitored, allowingthe refuge staff to make biologicaldecisions about management efforts.Ongoing research on the birds,mammals, plants, and other specieshelp biologists best manage therefuge's resources for the future.

A Home forWildlife

The refuge’s marshes, creeks, ponds,fields, and woods are home to a widevariety of plants, birds, fish, andother animals. Tidal marshes are the heart of therefuge. Fish such as striped bass andshad lay their eggs here, and theiryoung grow in the protected shallowwaters. Yellowlegs, plovers, and othershorebirds feed on wide expanses ofmud flats at low tide. Ducks andgeese dine on seeds and roots of wildrice, cattails, and other marsh plants.Red-winged blackbirds, rails,bitterns, and other birds nest in themarsh grasses. In addition to helpingto clean the water, the marsh alsohelps to protect surrounding townsby slowing down and absorbing floodslike a gigantic sponge.Darby Creek and several of itstributaries flow through the refuge,changing height with the tides. Inwarm weather, the banks and logsprovide dry ground for turtlesbasking in the sun. Belted kingfishers,tree swallows, and ducks frequent the creek.The 145-acre impoundment, a shallowmanaged pond, provides habitat formany fish and birds as well as plantsand insects. Refuge biologists adjustwater levels to attract migratingbirds in the spring and fall. Eaglesand osprey soar overhead in search oftheir next meal. Hundreds of treeswallows - nature’s mosquitocontrollers - nest in the impoundment’sbird boxes each summer.

Bullfrogs arecommon through-

out the refugewetlands. B

ill Buchanan/USFWS

Black ducks areone of nearly 80species of birdsthat nest on therefuge.

Bill Buchanan/USFWS

“All the flowers of allthe tomorrows are inthe seeds of today.”

Chinese Proverb

In late summer, thousands of marsh mallow bloom.

Bill Buchanan/USFWS

Things To Do The refuge trails are open daily fromsunrise to sunset. The CusanoEnvironmental Education Center isopen daily from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PMexcept for federal holidays. There are many wildlife orientedrecreational opportunities on therefuge. Hike on the ten miles of trails.Bird watch on your own or join ascheduled bird walk led by aknowledgeable volunteer. Fish inDarby Creek and other parts of therefuge for bass, catfish, carp,bluegills, and other fish; catch andrelease is highly recommended.Pennsylvania fishing licenses arerequired and regulations areenforced. Explore the marshes ofDarby Creek in a canoe or kayakaround high tide. Check at the visitorcenter for a tide chart. The refugeoffers photographers fantasticopportunities to capture nature at itsfinest. Bicycling is permitted onservice roads. The refuge is a part ofthe Tinicum-Fort Mifflin Trail-EastCoast Greenway Bike Trail.

Special events, including DarbyCreek Clean Up Day (April),International Migratory Bird Day(May), Pathways to Fishing (May orJune), and the Cradle of BirdingFestival (Sept.) are exciting times tovisit and learn more about the refugeand our environment.Nature walks, family programs,evening hikes, photo walks andworkshops, and summer eveningconservation programs are alsooffered. Check out the visitor centerexhibits and gift shop. For a calendarof events, ask at the visitor center,look on the Web site, or give us a call.Enjoy your visit to the refuge, andremember it is home to wildlife first.Please help us help wildlife and stayon designated trails, keep your dog ona leash, and especially - clean up afteryour pets and yourself. Collectingplants or animals, hunting, camping,littering, setting fires, possessingfirearms, weapons, fireworks, andswimming are prohibited. Help uskeep the wild in wildlife - don’t feedor approach birds or other animals.

Frank Doyle/USFWS

Frank Doyle/USFWS

Ron Holmes/USFWS

EnvironmentalEducation

Thousands of students experience thewonders of nature and science whileenjoying field trips to the refuge.Programs to help teachers plan theirvisits and use the resource to thefullest are scheduled throughout theyear. These programs are accreditedby Pennsylvania and New Jersey.Contact the refuge or visit the Website, for a current schedule ofeducator courses.

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Prohibited Activities – Camping, hunting, trapping, swimming, setting fires, collecting plants and animals.Consult refuge office for additional prohibited activities.

The trails of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum are open from sunrise to sunset. The Cusano Environmental Education Center is open from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM. Visitors with special needs – Contact the refuge for trail information.

Pets – Pets must be kept on a leash on the refuge.

DIRECTIONS

From I-95 South, take Exit 14 (Bartram Ave.); turn right onto 84th St.; turn left onto Lindbergh Blvd.; refuge entrance is one block on right.

From I-95 North, take Exit 10 (Rt. 291); turn left onto Bartram Ave.; turn left onto 84th St.; turn left onto Lindbergh Blvd.; refuge entrance is one block on right.

From I-76 East, take I-476 South to I-95 North; follow directions above. Alternatively, from I-76 East, take Rt. 291 West over Platt Bridge; bear right on Island Ave.; turn left on Bartram Ave.; turn right onto 84th St.; turn left onto Lindbergh Blvd.; refuge entrance is one block on right.

Public transportation: SEPTA bus routes 37 and 108 or Regional Rail R1 - Eastwick Station.