People encouraged to use their talents and passions to give a "Voice to the Vulnerable" across watershed

​Riverkeeper's note: As a unique way to showcase a special theme for 2024, our Riverkeeper ​is using the following poem to encourage people to use their various talents and abilities to give a voice to the vulnerable across the greater watershed. It could be via poetry or artwork, anywhere from the classroom to the courtroom, the workplace to the home, everyone has a chance to make a difference in their own social circles. If you would like to get more involved, take our 2024 Susquehanna Survey, consider volunteering as a volunteer Sentinel or reach out directly to Riverkeeper John Zaktansky at [email protected]

Who speaks for the hellbender on the bed of the creek?
Unassuming, nocturnal, alone and unique
Lurking beneath boulders, a crayfish regulator.
And where present in our streams, a clean-water indicator.

And yet ...

Because this native species breathes water through her skin
She absorbs all our pollutants, she's highly sensitive
Our eroding streambanks entomb her in her lair
We devastate her habitat but no protection we declare?

We name her our state amphibian, put her on a license plate
But then protect, even promote, those that accelerate her fallen state?

Endangered? Threatened? It should be such a simple choice!
Together, we must give the vulnerable a voice.

Who speaks for the eagle perched high upon her nest?
Patriotic, majestic even on maternal house arrest
Rebounding as a species from near DDT deleting
A conservation success story that bears glorious repeating.

And yet ...

Highways and housing projects threaten her habitat
Microplastic fibers spew out from the nearby laundromat
They and other pollutants lace the meat she feeds her family
We worked so hard to save her, then allow this new tragedy?

We should blacklist PFAS and other chemicals like we did DDT,
Instead, industry injects its cocktail in the ground and keeps the mix a mystery?

A dangerous double standard, so much it could destroy
Unless we all unite and give the vulnerable a voice.

Who speaks for the frog eggs in the Vernal pool?
Moments before they receive a tire tread tattoo?

Who speaks for the family fanning flames in their kitchen sink?
Methane flows from a faucet where once they took a drink!

Who speaks for the bass with blotchy skin?
With intersexed parts and a disrupted endocrine?

Who speaks for those near newly proposed plants
Built with no track record and less-than transparent plans?

Who speaks for those with orange water caused by AMD?
And heavy metals and sediment from our coal mine legacy?

Who speaks for those with poisoned groundwater?
With unfiltered wastewater?
With impaired freshwater?
With no water at all?

The riverkeeper, his staff, his board, his volunteers 
And still, with such a huge watershed, a need for bigger cheers ...

So, for the hellbender with habitat unbearable
For the family with water undrinkable 
For the tiniest tadpole, blotchiest bass and earnest eagle
We must step up, as one, as the voice for the vulnerable.

Again, you can help use your talents to give a voice to the vulnerable ... regardless if it is as a photographer or tech guru or attorney or just someone who wants to share links on social media or bring up the subject at the office water cooler or Scout troop meeting. You can get involved by taking our 2024 Susquehanna Survey and letting us know about your talents and personal connections and you can also contact Riverkeeper John Zaktansky directly at [email protected]

Pursuing goal of tech and environmental crossover gives a voice to thousands of birds

Regular rounds picking up trash along the river in Sunbury led to a chance meeting with Riverkeeper John Zaktansky, and eventually a spot on the Board of Directors with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association. 

However, his passion for technology -- running his own IT consulting business and desire to eventually see tech support environmental work -- led to development of a Raspberry Pi module running BirdNet software that records, IDs and uploads birdcall info. Fessler created his own unit, deployed it at his Sunbury home and when it was successful, shared that with Zaktansky. 

The two saw the bigger picture potential -- these units along waterways could eventually help identify changes in water quality through the birds. They received a Campbell Foundation Tech grant in early 2023 and have since installed numerous units across the watershed. 

The project was recently featured on the nationally syndicated BirdNote podcast (beginning at timestamp 13:30).

"It has been such a thrill to see Doug in his element, pursuing something truly meaningful to him and impacting the environment in a way that isn't being done anywhere else," said Zaktansky. "This is what we're striving for in 2024. Everyone has a talent or ability and a passion. We're encouraging you to use that to give the vulnerable within our watershed a voice, whether that is the hellbender, an eagle or your neighbor who may be struggling with the quality of his or her well water."

Specifically in terms of the Eastern hellbender, providing a voice in 2024 is key as the US Fish and Wildlife Service will be looking at its status nationally per a federal decision connected to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association. 

One internal example of that is association Board President Michael Kinney, who had an encounter with a hellbender that sparked a love of nature and photography and has led to his desire help give the species a voice today. 

We are working on a unique gallery experience later this year that will showcase artwork, music, poetry and other elements related to the hellbender. We encourage everyone to develop materials inspired by the species in preparation for this opportunity. If you have questions, contact Riverkeeper John Zaktansky at [email protected]