The Hidden Wildlife of Fitler Square
The Hidden Wildlife of Fitler Square
In this issue:
The Hidden Wildlife of Fitler Square
Council President Kenyatta Johnson responds to our reporting about the Schuylkill River Park shooting
The Hidden Wildlife of Fitler Square
By Rolando Rosa
There's a secret hum of wildlife happening under our feet in Fitler Square.
Retired physician Dr. Kenneth Frank has chronicled this local flora and fauna since 1976, most notably in his 2015 book Ecology of Center City Philadelphia.
“My hope was to cultivate a local interest in natural history,” Dr. Frank said. “Philadelphia and our Fitler Square area is a good place to observe plants and animals, but you have to look closely. You have to have patience and you may need a magnifying glass.”
Salamanders in Fitler Square Park
Next time you’re strolling through Fitler Square park, look down. You might be lucky enough to spot a red back salamander.
That was Dr. Frank’s experience when, “on October 20, 2012, around 9 a.m., I observed a red back salamander scurrying across a sidewalk in Fitler Square, a neighborhood park occupying less than a square block in Center City,” Dr. Frank recounts in his book.
It’s one of countless examples from Ecology of Center City Philadelphia that residents can use to better understand their neighborhood, and how a diverse web of animals thrives in it.
In the case of the red back salamander, Dr. Frank uses the small footprint of Fitler Square park as a case study to explore how some amphibians can thrive in such small urban habitats. The red back salamander has a yearly range of less than 24 square meters, making Fitler Square park a perfectly suitable home.
Sparrow’s Paradise in Fitler
The neighborhood of Fitler Square has also served as a perfect ecological niche for the house sparrow.
House sparrows were controversially introduced into Philadelphia in 1869 as a form of biological control against a plague of insect pests. But soon enough, the house sparrows started devouring crops and displacing native birds.
Nowadays, Dr. Frank says house sparrows are still perhaps the most abundant bird in Philadelphia, but overall they’re on the decline. Since 1966, house sparrows have declined by 85% in the United States, according to Dr. Frank’s research.
Thankfully, Fitler Square’s iconic “birdhouse home” has provided a perfect refuge for this species. “A single bird house isn’t that effective, but a group of them is good,” Dr. Frank explained. “[The birdhouse home] is just what house sparrows need because they’re colonial birds. They live in flocks.”
A Lifelong Passion
Dr. Frank’s passion for natural history traces to his roots in Arlington, Virginia. The suburb of Washington D.C. is filled with forests, fields and streams, including a plethora of a creatures that captured his young imagination.
Once he arrived in Philadelphia, he explored a Schuylkill River Trail that looked quite different than it does now. “Weeds grew there. It might be mowed once a year if at all,” Dr. Frank said. “But it was filled with butterflies and insects and all kinds of wild plants.”
Former long-time neighbor Frances Hoeber fondly remembers nature walks along the Schuylkill River with the inquisitive Dr. Frank.
“Ken had this interest and ability relating to the ecology of Center City. It goes back an entire lifetime. I learned a lot from him,” Hoeber said. “Ken has the capacity to see things that other people completely miss.”
That ability extends beneath the surface. Dr. Frank frequently photographs plants and animals that grow in sidewalk cracks, which has led to some interesting interactions.
“Picture you being a homeowner, and there’s some stranger that comes on his hands and knees photographing sidewalk cracks. What would you think?” Dr. Frank said. “Sometimes people would open their windows and say, ‘Sir may I help you?’ Other times, people would be really curious.”
Committed to the Mission
Since retiring, Dr. Frank has become even more embedded in the community through ecological outreach events such as his annual Insect Night at Bartram’s Garden each summer.
“I have a general sense of gratitude for being alive, being comfortable, being treated well by the world and by people,” Dr Frank said. “It gives me a sense of wanting to support the people and institutions that have supported me.”
That’s also why the book can be downloaded in its entirety online. Dr. Frank wanted no barriers to access the educational material.
Dr. Frank encourages the next generation of Philadelphians to partake in the fulfilling endeavor of ecology.
Council President Kenyatta Johnson Weighs In On the Feb 9 Schuylkill River Park Shooting
Last week we reported that the February 9 shooting in Schuylkill River Park unfolded near a children’s Valentine’s Day event.
After publication, Council President Kenyatta Johnson gave a statement to the Fitler Focus. His comments addressed concerns about public safety and spotty nighttime lighting in Schuylkill River Park.
I am always concerned about any violent incident that happens throughout the Second Council District, which includes parts of South Philadelphia, Center City and Southwest Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Police continue to investigate the February 9th shooting at Schuylkill River Park basketball courts during a basketball game. Several suspects were immediately taken into custody after the shooting. I am asking that anybody that has any additional information that can help solve the case, please contact the Philadelphia Police TipLine at 215-686-TIPS.
Over the years, I have worked with the Philadelphia Police, Schuylkill River Development Corporation and the Friends of Schuylkill River Park to improve safety and the quality-of-life for anyone that visits the area and I will continue to do so. The Schuylkill River Park and the Schuylkill River Trail in the Second Council District are very peaceful places in our city.
My office has contacted the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department to have them investigate Fitler Focus' reports to my office that nighttime lights have been out in the park and security cameras around the recreation centers are not working. I am urging the Parks and Recreation Department to make any necessary repairs as soon as possible.