Stephanie Spear 
A walk in the park is perhaps the most classic of all analog activities. It’s a chance to unplug and engage your senses in a way screens don’t allow. But in Northern Virginia, early spring might be the most unexpectedly perfect time to do it. As part of our exploration of analog activities in Northern Virginia, we chatted with two Naturalists with Fairfax County Parks Authority to get their expert take on the best way to visit the parks. Their answers may surprise you, especially given that most of us associate an ideal park visit with a sunny weekend day. Read on for more about how to get the most out of your visit to a Fairfax County Park.
Seasonal Highlights
Most of us think of a visit to the park as a sunny-day activity, and that the perfect park day requires ideal conditions. But according to Naturalists with Fairfax County Parks Authority, the opposite is often true: the best visits are a little messy and imperfect. And, early spring is perhaps one of the best times to get acquainted with one of the over 400 parks in the FCPA system. Amanda Charette Kay is Program Manager and Naturalist Instructor at Burke Lake Park, and Anna Maria Sparks is a Program Manager and Naturalist at Lake Accotink, and they met us at Burke Lake Park to talk about visiting the parks.
Anna Maria Sparks, left, and Amanda Charette Kay, right, peek at some birds at Burke Lake Park
While many prefer summer, Amanda said that winter is actually her favorite time for birdwatching. “The leaves being off the trees makes it easier to access the forest,” she said. Early spring is the exciting transitional period where you can observe two groups of birds simultaneously. Winter visitors, such as different types of mergansers and tundra swans, are still present but are preparing to leave for their breeding grounds. Meanwhile, migrants who flew away are starting to return home, creating a “higher amount of diversity” of birds passing through the parks along the Atlantic Flyway. In other words, early spring may not look like peak season, but it’s one of the most active times to observe wildlife.
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For Anna Maria Sparks, the big excitement comes from the water at the beginning of spring. “Now we have vernal pools coming, filling up, and the salamanders are migrating,” she said. Vernal pools are ephemeral wetlands critical for amphibian reproduction. These short-lived pools offer a rare glimpse into a vital and often overlooked part of the ecosystem.
Making the Most of Your Visit
Of course, a sunny day at the park is special in its own way, but both Anna Maria and Amanda said that the best visits are the imperfect ones. Especially in the early spring, when the signs of seasonal transition are small but noticeable, such as spring plants like skunk cabbage popping up, new green leaves on trees and bushes, and birds building their nests. It’s not the most polished season, but it is one of the most dynamic. They said that the best way to observe these small changes is to change your approach to how you visit the park.
Anna Maria and Amanda said that the best way to visit the park is during odd times, not the after-lunch rush on a Saturday. “I definitely would recommend coming, not on the weekend, if at all possible, but also just odd times, and we’re open when the sun comes up, and being up really early is magic at heart,” Amanda said. “And also staying into the evening. At sunrise and sunset over this lake is magic. You can try and avoid the crowds that way, and it’s honestly the perfect time to be here; regardless, it’s also the best time to see birds.”
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Anna Maria echoed this sentiment, saying that an imperfect weather day might be just the right time to visit. “You should come on a cloudy day, right after a rain, or even if it’s raining,” she said.
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In addition to timing your visit mindfully, they suggested having a different outlook on your visit. “Take it slow and quiet, you’ll notice a lot more of what’s around you,” they recommend. Amanda shared that, in particular, at Burke Lake Park, with its paved path around the lake, people will get to the park, walk or jog or bike around it, and then leave, missing the quieter moments where nature and wildlife reveal themselves. They also recommend the use of apps like iBird and iNaturalist to enhance your park visit, so you can identify birds, plants, and other wildlife around you.
All Fairfax County parks offer a variety of seasonal programming, which Amanda and Anna Maria said is a great way to dip your toe into learning more about the parks. The programming includes accessible topic areas like stargazing and bird watching, and more vigorous activities like kayaking or ziplining. Courses are led by experts, and the necessary equipment is provided. Amanda leads many of the bird watching courses at Burke Lake, and has dozens of sets of binoculars available for participants.
To find out more about Fairfax County Parks Authority and programming, please visit the FCPA online or on social media.
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