What we're about
This group enjoys local (and regional) trips to see wildlife in the Raleigh, Wake County area of North Carolina. We focus on birdwatching, and we enjoy teaching anyone who is new to birding. We welcome visitors to the area who want to attend our trips.
We also volunteer for various events, including river cleanups, prairie management at local parks, nestbox maintenance, helping with events at various parks and museums, and "citizen science" projects (such as Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count).
Wake Audubon has a group for youth (teens 12 - 18); you can read more about the Young Naturalists Group at http://www.wakeaudubon.org/ync.htm as the trips for YN are not posted on this Meetup site.
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: http://www.wakeaudubon.org/join.htm Wake Audubon meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh. The meeting is open to the public.
Wake Audubon Society is a member of Audubon NC (http://www.nc.audubon.org) and of the National Audubon Society (http://www.audubon.org). We have a membership of about 1,200 and hold monthly meetings, field trips, bird walks and other activities. Wake Audubon is made up of a diverse group of people with a variety of interests and specialties; we're not just birders. Wake Audubon members share a common interest in wildlife, nature and environmental conservation: http://www.wakeaudubon.org/what_we_do.htm
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 (4+)
North Carolina Museum of Art
Wake Audubon BIRDABILITY outing: (Birding Accessible to All)
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, *8:00* AM to 10:00 AM
NC Museum of Art: Goodnight Art Park, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.
Our Birdability was "almost" rained out on May 28, so we will hold it again on Saturday June 3.
Meet at the Art Park Welcome Center (near the tall brick smokestack).
Leader is Lynn Erla Beegle,[masked]
Limit is technically 25 birders, but, it is a public park.
Note: Anyone who is mobility-challenged is welcome to join us, even if the 25-birder limit has been reached.
This is a BIRDABILITY outing: open to all, and good for handicapped birders. We will stick to paved trails (plus one firm gravel trail if everyone is willing to venture there). Path is about two miles.
There is bus service to the NCMA (ask to be dropped off at the new Art Park Welcome Center). There is an event at 11 am to 1 pm so enjoy the NC Museum of Art after our outing, then attend "YEAR OF THE TRAIL MEET THE ARTISTS EVENT AND MARKET"
https://ncartmuseum.org/events/year-of-the-trail-meet-the-artists-event-and-market/?occurrence=2023-06-03
"Please join us for an artist meet and greet and pop-up market"
Turn RIGHT when you enter via Reedy Creek Road entrance for the NC Museum of Art. Meet in upper parking lot close to the big chimney and new Park Welcome Center (northern end of the main lot). Look for people with binoculars.
Habitat includes field, forest, and pond.
Restrooms available. Admission to the Art Museum is free; opens at 10. Backpacks, binoculars, and long-lens cameras are not allowed in the museum, but they have free lockers to stow these items.
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Updated May 28 by L E Beegle
- Erla B.
- Matt
- Lori S
- 7 attendees
Early Birders welcome at Prairie Ridge Ecostation on:
Friday, JUNE 9, 2023, 5:40 AM or any time thereafter!
Leader: NONE. Bird on your own or with people you meet.
Address: 1671 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh. Do NOT park outside the gates.
The Prairie Ridge staff are opening the gates EARLY, ONE FRIDAY A MONTH, so that birders can come enjoy early morning birding.
And yes, you can arrive ANY TIME after 5:40am! Visit the event website here: https://naturalsciences.org/calendar/event/early-birds-at-prairie-ridge-4/2023-06-09/
Normal hours of operation for Prairie Ridge Ecostation are Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm (closed on Sunday and Monday) and closed on most state holidays. Please CONFIRM that there are no delays to the opening date and time by visiting their website!
Please note that there is no official birding program happening.
Their website says: "Everyone knows the best birding happens early in the morning, so we are pleased to welcome Early Birds at Prairie Ridge! Bring your own binoculars or camera and stop by before we open to enjoy our early morning birds. No pre-registration is required and you’re welcome to arrive as early as the stated time! Rain cancels event.
Assume no facilities will be available.
See their website for maps and other information.
https://naturalsciences.org/prairie-ridge
Follow along on Facebook @prairieridge
You can RSVP here but remember, there is NO LEADER for this outing.
NOTE: Prairie Ridge is NOT a Birdability site; it has all soft trails.
It is best to wear long sleeves and boots for your visit.
NO DOGS are allowed at Prairie Ridge Ecostation.
The restrooms in the building near the Purple Martin houses might be open. The brick building is not open to the general public.
Hope to see some birders out nice and early! : )
- David B.
- Kerry C.
- 2 attendees
BIRD OUTING: Wendell Park Birding on SATURDAY JUNE 10, 2023 from 8:30 am to 10:30
Location: Wendell Community Park, 601 West 3rd Street, Wendell, NC
Leader is LynnErla Beegle ([masked]) or Frank Doherty.
This bird outing repeats on the second Saturday of most months. Check Meetup and wakeaudubon.org calendars for updates.
Wendell Park has unpaved trails that lead us through woodlands, mowed areas, and a boardwalk overlooking a marsh with baldcypress. It is one of our easternmost Wake County hotspots, and just a short drive to the Turnipseed Preserve (which is open on weekends throughout the year and each day in the summer).
RSVP on Meetup opens about the start of the month. This is to give everyone who receives the Wake Audubon e-newsletter a chance to get on the RSVP and to prevent someone from signing up weeks ahead and THEN not going because they forgot!
Technically, an RSVP is not required for this birdwalk, but it is helpful.
Note: at times there is an event at the park and thus an entrance fee -- tell them you are there for the free birdwalk to avoid the fee! But, you might have to pay the fee anyway, since we have to park inside the park these days due to construction.
There is construction at the park entrance, so drive up near the Community Center and park in the grassy field on the left. Look for people with binoculars.
NOTE: This walk is not conducive for Birdability attendees. Trails are not paved and there are rough and steep areas. Watch your step, wear sturdy CLOSED-TOE shoes to prevent ant bites, and pack water. Can be muddy after heavy rain. Lots and lots of non-fire ants; wear CLOSED-TOE SHOES, socks, trousers (not a problem in the winter).
Wendell Park ebird hotspot: http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L5460345
Previous list from May 2022:
https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S112670641
and
https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S112675302
https://ebird.org/tripreport/46924
Thanks, Frank, for volunteering to be the trip leader each month!
Thank you for your interest in birding with others. Our Meetup is FREE to you and supported by Wake Audubon. We hope you will support us by joining Wake Audubon Society ($20 per year) and by donations and by volunteering. See http://wakeaudubon.org/support/ for more information
- Erla B.
- 1 attendee
Wake Audubon Monthly Meeting
ZOOM AND In-Person
Time: Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 7:30 - 9:00 pm (location details below)
Topic: Avian Acoustics by Erik Thomas, Linguistics Program
North Carolina State University
Acoustics of Bird Vocalizations
We’ll be dissecting the sounds that birds make. We’ll look at how sounds can be broken up into components, and how avian sounds are built upon the same principles as human voices. Then we’ll examine how the unique sound-generating organ that birds have, the syrinx, allows them to engage in some astonishing vocal gymnastics. Finally, we’ll see why these vocalizations often sound like particular words to our ears, giving us ways to remember songs and calls.
Place: In-person + Virtual
- Museum of Natural Sciences (121 W. Jones St., Raleigh), William G. Ross Jr. Environmental Conference Center (4th floor). Someone will be at the entry door between the globe and the Daily Planet Cafe from 7:15 - 7:45.
- Masks are optional and encouraged for anyone who is not vaccinated or at high risk. If you feel unwell, please stay home and enjoy our presentation over Zoom. Refreshments provided.
- Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83137865298
- Password: 4Birds.
- Please note: Room and location could change. Check back
- The meeting will be recorded and the recording will be available by the time the March newsletter is released.
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Wake Audubon Meeting, second Tuesday of the month, at 7:30 pm to about 9:15 pm.
Free and open to the public, and we hope you will help us by joining Wake Audubon and National Audubon!
http://wakeaudubon.org/get-involved/join/
Member fees are just $20 per year to renew with National Audubon.
Questions? Contact Erla Beegle ([masked] or[masked]) = *Last updated[masked] by LEBeegle
- Mary A
- Erla B.
- MARY Y
- 30 attendees
Past events (1,867)
North Carolina Museum of Art
- Erla B.
- Andrew B.
- Dan L.
- 7 attendees