Monticello Park

 

LOCATION: 320 Beverly Drive, Alexandria, Virginia.

 

DIRECTIONS: Traveling on I-395, take Exit 7, South Glebe Road (Alexandria). Just before crossing Four Mile Run, there is an intersection where South Glebe Road bears to the left and West Glebe Road bears to the right. Take West Glebe Road to Russell Road. Turn right on Russell Road and go about a quarter of a mile to Beverly Drive. Turn right on Beverly Drive and travel about 100 yards to the park on your left.

 

ACREAGE: 6.2

 

HISTORY: Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

ECOSYSTEM TYPE, HABITATS, & ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: Monticello is a very small residential park with mature hardwood trees, understory, and ground cover. The habitat, various food sources, and a small stream that flows thru the park make it a magnet for various species of migrating birds.

 

BIRDS AND BIRDWATCHING: The varied habitat at Monticello makes it an especially productive place to visit during spring migration. Many local bird watchers consider the park to be as good a place as any to see migrating warblers as there is in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area and consider it a warbler “hotspot”. The small size of the park, combined with mature trees, understory, and water provide often close-up looks of birds. There is a loop trail thru the park and a shorter trail that branches off the main trail. Warblers seen here include Blue-winged, Tennessee, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Blackburnian, Palm, Bay-breasted, Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes, Mourning, Hooded, Wilson’s, and Canada. In addition to warblers, Monticello is a good place for a chance to see Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, White-eyed, Yellow-throated, Philadelphia, and Blue-headed Vireos, Gray-cheeked, Swainson’s, Hermit, and Wood Thrush, Summer and Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted and Blue Grosbeaks. Knowledgeable bird watchers are present most days during spring migration and are happy to discuss what they’ve seen. The park is included in the Fairfax Audubon Society (FAS) Northern Virginia Bird Survey. Pleas check the FAS Web site (www.fairfaxaudubon.org) or contact the FAS office (703) 256-6895 for information about scheduled bird walks or participating in the survey.

 

CONSERVATION CHALLENGES: The stream that runs thru the park is fed by surface water run-off from the surrounding residential area and the park itself. Periodically, invasive and nonnative plants are removed. Non-bird watchers, including those with children, and dog walkers who use the park are often unaware of how their activities might adversely affect bird life in the park.

 

CONSERVATION WORK AT THE SITE: The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (Department) is responsible for park maintenance. Bird watchers, including members of FAS, offer the city suggestions about how best to maintain the park.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION: The main number for the Department is 703-838-4340. The Department doesn’t have any information regarding bird watching at Monticello Park, and the park is not included on their Web site.

 

FEES AND HOURS OF OPERATION: There is no fee to use the park, and it is open from dawn to dusk.

 

FACILITIES: The park doesn’t have any facilities. There is a very small parking lot and most people park along Beverly Drive.