Darby Creek

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum offers a respite from its surroundings. Sandwiched between a superfund site and the airport, with the I-95 skirting its edge, it is not where one would expect a refuge. Touted as Pennsylvania’s most extensive freshwater tidal wetland, it is simultaneously an emblem of our newfound respect for the waterways and the problems we still face. The high water mark of hurricane Ida, indicated by the trash hanging from the tree branches along the creek, provided ample evidence of how far we must go. Upstream of the Wildlife Refuge, a superfund site is being sealed off from the stream.

For all of that, Darby Creek is a beautiful place; the wildlife is abundant, and there are aquatic meadows and tree-lined riverbanks. Osprey, herons, and egrets seem to love the site. Turtles are sunning on logs that have come to rest along the shores. Who would think to look for all of this on the way to the airport?

September 2021