For Women’s History Month, we are dedicating our Wednesday Wisdom feature to women in conservation and whose lives were inspired nature. This week, we feature Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. Her words say it best and we are making this connection at national wildlife refuges across the country. These young birders are connecting with nature at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia.
I’m Tom Barnes — you might know me from my TGIF with Tom column. And now, I’m bringing you Tuesday Trek! Each Tuesday, I’ll give you some insight about a refuge destination you might enjoy. Planning a winter vacation? Spring break? I might know the perfect spot for your upcoming travels!
When I visited Philadelphia, I was mostly concerned with finding a Philly cheesesteak to authenticate the experience. But on the drive into town, I remember catching sight of an expansive wilderness juxtaposing the city skyline cutting above it. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is an urban national wildlife refuge, an oasis of natural lands and unique wildlife habitat right in Philadelphia. For a breath of fresh air in the city, check out the largest freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania on the refuge.
| Check out more Tuesday Trek features! |
As a key stopover on the Atlantic Flyway, many species of migratory bird will rest and feed here, making it ideal for the urban birder. Around 300 discrete species have been observed here over the years. The refuge offers a number of birding programs year-round. And after all, you can always grab that Philly cheesesteak just a few minutes away.
Our Chesapeake Bay Field Office has led Hillsmere Elementary School in Annapolis, Md., to transform their expansive schoolyard into a native plant habitat beneficial to pollinators over the past 5 years. Their schoolyard has a dedicated space for habitat and water quality, native bee posters from our agency in their classrooms, and non-stinging, ground-nesting native mining bees on their schoolyard. Credit: USFWS
Long-term trends for several wild bee species, as well as some butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, show drops in populations, according to a National Research Council report. These are the species that 75 percent of all flowering plants — including most food crops and some that provide fiber, drugs, and fuel — rely on for fertilization in order to bear fruit.
| Hear from two of our refuges celebrating pollinators: |
How can we help? Plant a pollinator garden!
The most obvious need is a variety of nectar and pollen sources. Consider the following when choosing plants for your garden:
Our agency works with partners to recovery endangered pollinators and the plants that depend on them. We use native, pollinator-friendly plants in our habitat work, and we create butterfly trails and gardens. Learn more about how we help pollinators.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region 