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Flora and Fauna of Forest Hill Park


BIRDS:  The lake area at Forest Hill Park, soon to be renovated, is home to many kinds of wildlife, particularly birds and turtles.  The upland areas of the park are also home to many species of birds, including Red-tailed Hawks who nest in the park.  Below is a list of birds sighted in the park.

AN IVY INVASION:  Forest Hill Park is also home to many trees.  At one time there was an azalea garden.  You might not know that some of the azaleas now in the Bryan Park Azalea Garden originally came from the Forest Hill Azalea Garden.  Read below about efforts to save the trees in the Old Azalea Garden area of Forest Hill Park from invasive aliens and also to plant new trees.

BIRDS
 
The following is a list of all bird species that we have observed during our winter birdwalks through this venerable old park, located in the middle of the city!

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
American Black Duck
Mallard
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet 
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Pine Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
House Sparrow

Also seen or heard in the park at other times:
 
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Thrush

A
N IVY INVASION

IT'S A SILENT INVASION!

Non-native plants are taking over the park! 




No, this is not an old science fiction movie.
It’s happening now in Forest Hill Park.

Non-native, invasive plants are replacing native plants and trees in our park at an alarming rate.  These aggressive plants (see list below) push out naturally occurring, complex plant systems (biodiversity) with vast areas of the same types of plants (monocultures).

HOW DO THEY DO IT?

•    They take over the soil where native plants, like wild azalea, low bush blueberry, or native viburnum once thrived.
•    They choke off air, water, and nutrients from native trees such as oak, pine, sycamore, river birch, and sweet gum.
•    They do not provide appropriate food for a complex ecosystem to thrive.

Unless we do something to stop these invasives, native plants and animals will disappear from Forest Hill Park.


WHAT CAN WE DO?
We have to start somewhere: Friends of Forest Hill Park, with the help of volunteers from Richmond's Tree Stewards and the Department of Parks and Recreation, is working to remove non-native species in the “Old Azalea Garden” area of Forest Hill Park. (This area is located along the 3800 block of Forest Hill Avenue, opposite Brookside Rd.)


OUR GOAL:
Once we have removed invasive plants from this area, we will replace them with native species, such as oaks, service berry, and Asclepias tuberose (butterfly weed). It is our hope that this effort will some day serve as a Native Plant Demonstration Garden, encouraging others to “go native” in their own backyards.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
This is a long term project and will likely take several years to complete, but every little bit of effort will make a difference.

If you would like to help with this project, please contact: friendsofforesthill@rrpfoundation.org


Tax-deductible donations to purchase native trees and plants to replace the invaders (b
e sure to specify that the donation is intended for native trees and plants ) may be sent to:

Friends of Forest Hill Park
P.O. Box13161   
Richmond, Virginia 23225

For more information:

Alien Plants
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/factmain.htm

Native Plants
http://bringingnaturehome.net/


Problem Plants in Forest Hill Park:

Vines:                                  
English ivy                      
Japanese honeysuckle           

Shrubs:
Oriental bittersweet
Privet               
Japanese wisteria

Trees:
Mimosa
Tree of heaven