Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette
IV-A5. Fisher Park
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700 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/341/1204 Administrator: Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department, 1001 Fourth Street, Greensboro, NC 27405, 336-373-2558 https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/parks-recreation Hours of operation: At the time of this writing there are no hours of operation listed, but effectively this type of park is open from sunrise to sunset.
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Directions
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GPS coordinates: N 36° 04.933’ W 079° 47.450’
(Intersection of Fisher Park Cir and Victoria Rd) Directions: Birders approaching from Wendover Avenue should go south on Elm Street to Fisher Park Circle, which borders the park on the northern, western, and southern sides; the eastern border is formed by Elm Street. If driving north from the downtown area on Elm Street, watch on the left for the beautiful old First Presbyterian Church. Continue past the church to the next left, which is Fisher Park Circle. There is no parking on Elm Street. However, after turning left, visitors will find parking in pull-offs around the park. Continuing to the next intersection, one may turn left again (Carolina and Parkway intersect with Fisher Park Circle here). There is considerably more parking along this section of the park than on Fisher Park Circle. A block further south the circle turns left again at the intersection with Florence, where First Presbyterian is across from the park. After passing through what appears to be the church parking lot, the visitor reaches Elm Street again and can turn left to go back up to the other end of Fisher Park Circle. The round trip is only a little over half a mile in length. This circular route may be walked while birding by staying on the grass and sidewalks. |
Description
Fisher Park is a neighborhood park located off Elm Street on the north edge of the Greensboro central business district. It is known to local birders as one of the best spots in the county for migrating spring warblers. Fisher Park is administered by the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department but has no facilities and is not staffed. On the other hand, there is an active neighborhood association and Neighborhood Watch program in this old residential section of the city, which officially has been designated as a Historic District. For additional information about the neighborhood, go to the Fisher Park Neighborhood Association website: www.fisherparknc.org.
Enter the park by foot at any of the numerous points along the periphery. Although any season is good, spring is a wonderful time to stroll the many old paths through mature azaleas, around perennial flower beds, and across venerable stone footbridges that cross a little stream. One may gaze up through an understory of flowering dogwood and redbud trees to mature oaks, hickories, and other hardwoods. There are a few picnic tables at the north end of the park, and visitors with children will find a nice playground on the east side of Elm nestled among the trees.
Fisher Park comprises about 12 acres, all of which are easily walked. It’s pretty and quiet except for the road noise from Elm St. Most of the common resident species of the area have been found here. The park is nicely landscaped but quite old, so trees are mature, and there is good understory structure. This provides excellent foraging habitat for a variety of migrating warblers. Also occasionally seen in the park are Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers.
Enter the park by foot at any of the numerous points along the periphery. Although any season is good, spring is a wonderful time to stroll the many old paths through mature azaleas, around perennial flower beds, and across venerable stone footbridges that cross a little stream. One may gaze up through an understory of flowering dogwood and redbud trees to mature oaks, hickories, and other hardwoods. There are a few picnic tables at the north end of the park, and visitors with children will find a nice playground on the east side of Elm nestled among the trees.
Fisher Park comprises about 12 acres, all of which are easily walked. It’s pretty and quiet except for the road noise from Elm St. Most of the common resident species of the area have been found here. The park is nicely landscaped but quite old, so trees are mature, and there is good understory structure. This provides excellent foraging habitat for a variety of migrating warblers. Also occasionally seen in the park are Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers.
The main hazard here in April and early May is the possibility of a severe case of "warbler neck" that may result from watching most of the vireo and warbler species that may be seen in the county. This also is a good place to find most of the woodpeckers possible in the county, including Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, and in winter, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Red-headed Woodpeckers also have been found here, though not frequently. Thrushes like this park too, including Swainson’s in migration, Hermit in winter, and Wood Thrushes in summer. Almost all of the common suburban birds also may be found here and in the surrounding residential lawns. In recent years, Chimney Swifts have roosted in large numbers in the upper reaches of First Presbyterian Church during fall migration.
Fisher Park is near the Audubon Natural Area, which is described elsewhere in this guide.
Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette
Fisher Park is near the Audubon Natural Area, which is described elsewhere in this guide.
Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette