What we’re about
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 their authentic selves.
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 (4+)
See all- LGBTQ+ Beginner Birders Program: Learn to BirdAnnie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park, Raleigh, NC
As of May 13, 9:40 p.m. we've reached capacity for this event. You're welcome to join our waitlist by completing the registration form (though, again, you'll be waitlisting rather than registering). Should anyone cancel, we'll notify those on waitlist in the order they joined. Thank you for your interest in this program.
LGBTQ+ Beginner Birders Program: Learn to Bird!
This is a free workshop that requires registration off Meetup. Register (waitlist) here.
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (arrive 8:45 if borrowing binoculars)
Location: Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
5229 Awls Haven Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614Hosting this event expressly for the LGBTQ+ community are workshop sponsors Wake Audubon and Field Inclusive, Inc. in partnership with City of Raleigh Parks and the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Collectively we’re striving for everyone to feel welcome, safe and included in the natural sciences and outdoors.
‘Birding’ – or, the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby – has become one of the most popular outdoor activities. If you are taking a new interest in birds and looking for help getting started, come develop your skills together with others at our Beginner Birders workshop
We’ll discuss terminology, field guides and popular apps (bring your phone!), birding safely, and choosing, using and adjusting binoculars, with loaner binoculars provided (or bring your own if you have them). We’ll spend time outdoors to identify resident birds – and visitors migrating through – using the tools that you’ll now have.
Our route outside will consist of a mix of paved, gravel, and grassy surfaces with slight gradients. All-gendered restrooms will be available.
Participation may be capped due to space restrictions. Reach Wake Audubon board director and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging co-chair Rick LaRose at rlarose.was@gmail.com with any questions.
We look forward to building your beginner birding skills together with you on May 31!!
Not open - Early Bird at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve, (Register offsite) 2025-06-07Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve, Wake Forest, NC
Early Bird at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve (registration required off Meetup)
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 8 am - 9:30 am
Register Off-site only: Requires a login and password:
Login FIRST at Raleigh Parks Login
Then register for this free event at:
https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=360359079
(the link won't work unless you are already logged in!)(Workshop code is 'HFNPEARLYBIRD")
Grab your binoculars and meet us at beautiful Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve for a bird-watching hike led by Wake Audubon guest naturalist, Lynn Erla Beegle. Spend your morning watching and learning about birds that prefer meadows and forest edges on this approximately 1.5 mile hike. For beginning and advanced birders. Bring your binoculars, or borrow a pair of ours. Pre-registration is required. Limited to City of Raleigh residents.
Meet in the parking lot at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve 2900 Horseshoe Farm Rd, Wake Forest, NC, 27587 . Note: Allow time for road construction at 401 and Ligon Mill Road.Not open
