About us
Welcome to Wake Audubon Society – where our love for nature meets a commitment to inclusion and belonging and providing programs, outings and activities where all can safely access and celebrate nature.
As a chapter of Audubon NC and the National Audubon Society, our 1,900-strong community in Wake, Johnston, Franklin, and Nash counties, North Carolina, is proud to lead education, conservation, and advocacy efforts to grow our region responsibly and with concern for the birds, wildlife and places we all live.
There is no requirement to join Wake Audubon Society in order to be a member of this Meetup. There is no fee for this Meetup. We encourage you to join Wake Audubon, however, as we depend on member fees to support our environmental projects.
This group enjoys local (and regional) outings to experience wildlife in the Raleigh, Wake County area of North Carolina. We focus on birding, and we enjoy teaching anyone who is new to birding. We welcome visitors to the area who want to attend our outings.
Wake Audubon hosts free, public, in-person educational programs that are generally held on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. in the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones St. Raleigh, NC, 4th floor meeting room. Most of these programs can also be viewed virtually via Zoom. See the topic, and confirm the location and Zoom link for each program in our Meetup or calendar posts.
We also volunteer for various events, including river cleanups, invasive species removal, nestbox maintenance, helping with events at various parks and museums, and community science projects such the Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count.
Thanks for your interest in Wake Audubon. Come, join us!
Our mission statement: "To foster knowledge, appreciation, and enjoyment of nature; to encourage responsible environmental stewardship; to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity."
Upcoming events
6
Birding for Wellbeing at Yates Mill 2026.06.20
Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh, NC, USMindful birding at Historic Yates Mill County Park
2026.06.20 | a Birding for Wellbeing event
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 8:15 – 10:30 a.m.- Enjoy food and fellowship 8:15 - 8:40 a.m.
- Birding – 8:40 - 10:30 a.m.
- All skill levels encouraged to come; borrow binoculars from us or bring your own.
Sponsors: Wake Audubon, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Wake County.
Our Birding for Wellbeing outings center on mindful practices, with a slow pace to observe birds, relax in nature, and enjoy social connection in service to our physical and mental health.
Managed as a historic site and native wildlife refuge, the 174-acre Historic Yates Mill County Park features the last operating 18th-century water-powered grist mill in North Carolina’s capital county.
- The park was developed by, and is managed through, a partnership effort among Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space, NC State University and the nonprofit group Yates Mill Associates.
- It includes over three miles of hiking trails that traverse pond, creek, forest and wetland habitats.
- Checking ebird, birders recently observed, Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Mississippi Kite, Orchard Oriole, Summer Tanager, Yellow Bellied Cuckoo among other species.
- While mill tours aren't held until the afternoon, the on-site A.E. Finley Center for Education & Research will be open after our outing to step inside, cool off, and enjoy their displays on the history of the mill and local wildlife.
- And, Saturday will be once-a-month corn grinding day! After visiting the exhibits, take a view inside the mill as millers begin to prepare stones for grinding, around 11:30 a.m.
Driving directions and logistics
- Park address is 4620 Lake Wheeler Road Raleigh, NC 27603.
- The Park's gates open at 8:00 a.m.
- Park in the large, paved parking lot.
- Look for Birding for Wellbeing signs to guide your path to our picnic table gathering area.
- Join Matt, Rick and Alexis at the tables.
What to expect / bring
- We’ll start by snacking on pastries (some gluten free) as we all greet and enjoy community with each other. 8:15 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Bring your morning beverage of choice.
- During this time, we’ll assist anyone to borrow binoculars. Please arrive at 8:15 to be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight. There’s no requirement to use binoculars, yet, we’ll have plenty to borrow if you choose to do so and provide a safe space to learn.
- Bring your own filled water bottle if you intend to drink and/or carry water with you on the outing.
- There are restrooms at the nearby Park Center.
- Checking with Park staff, trails have been freshly mulched. We'll also cross wooden slate bridges,and take a path that's mostly flat.
- Anticipate dappled shade and areas of sun, so be prepared for both.
Your hosts
- Our guide will be Matt Florez, NC Environmental Educator, Outdoor Nature Instructor at Town of Holly Springs and Senior Program Assistant at Town of Cary; Matt's also a Wake Audubon board director.
- Wake Audubon board director and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging event lead Rick LaRose (he/him) serves to bring accessible and welcoming ways for everyone to enjoy birds and take part in nature, wherever they are in their life journeys.
- Licensed therapist and yoga teacher Alexis Schulman, LCMHC, began birding as a way to deepen her own mindfulness in nature and support her personal wellbeing. Through her work in mental health and mindfulness-based practices, Alexis has become interested in how slowing down our attention outdoors can support both observation and a calm mind. She developed the mindful birding framework for this series in collaboration with Wake Audubon and NAMI Wake County and will help guide these practices during the outings.
- Missing this outing will be NAMI Wake County Executive Director Mark Simon, recovering from a foot injury. An avid birder, Mark is grateful for how birding has served his own mental health and passionate about sharing this source of well-being with others.
Today's practice: Curiosity
- Curiosity encourages us to approach nature with openness and interest rather than focusing solely on identification or expertise.
- Research suggests that curiosity can support wellbeing by increasing engagement with the present moment, fostering feelings of enjoyment and appreciation, and helping us notice new experiences in familiar places.
- During this outing, we'll explore how curiosity can deepen our experience of birding and our connection to the natural world, with brief mindful pauses to reflect on questions such as:
- What captures your attention today?
- What are you noticing that you've never noticed before?
- What sparks your sense of wonder or interest?
What bird species frequent the Park and trail?
Check out Historic Yates Mill County Park sightings on eBird ahead of us adding a checklist of our own.
Bird List - Yates Mill County Park, Wake, North Carolina, United States - eBird HotspotQuestions ahead?
- Email event manager Rick LaRose at rlarose.was@gmail.com.
- Text Rick on the day of the event with any questions at 919 609-7570.
We're looking forward to sharing community and birding together with you on Saturday, June 20!
Wake Audubon advocates birds, wildlife, nature, and environmental conservation with a commitment to providing activities where all can safely access and celebrate nature as their authentic selves.
NAMI Wake County is the local affiliate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We provide advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that people affected by mental illness can build better lives.
Why partner together?
As more and more stressors impact our everyday lives, the toll on our mental health can be debilitating.
As remedy, birding, bird song, and time in nature are proven to ease stress, boost mood, promote community, and strengthen well-being. We’re a natural fit.22 attendees
Native Plant Swap at White Deer Park Nature Center (PM Session) 2026-06-20
White Deer Park Nature Center, 2400 State Rd 2710, Garner, NC, USJoin us at the White Deer Park Nature Center for a Native Plant Swap! Help spread the joy of native plants by swapping species you have to spare and receiving new plants in return. Bring rooted plants, seedlings, or cuttings to trade. All plants must be native to the southeastern US or North Carolina. Refreshments will be provided.
Please attach a label on each plant prior to arrival at the event. Limit of 20 plants per participant. Preregistration is required, and space is limited to 26 participants. Registration is required Off-Meetup.
Register here: https://garner.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=3798Questions about the swap? Email Colleen Bockhahn at cbockhahn@garnernc.gov
1 attendee
Past events
2344
