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
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Hilltop-Needmore Park (North), 2026-0228
Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve, 4621 Shady Greens Dr, Fuquay-Varina, NC, USBirding at Hilltop-Needmore Park (North)
Saturday, FEBRUARY 28, 2026
Time: 8:30 to 10:30 am
4621 Shady Greens Drive, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Leaders: Kyra Bartow (leaders also include Larry Zoller and David Southwick)
Free Bird Outing with Wake Audubon! Join us for a Wake Audubon bird outing at Hilltop-Needmore Park on the fourth Saturday of most months (check here for updates).
The walk is limited to 20 participants; the RSVP on Meetup opens February 1 at 7 am.We will meet at the lower end of the old Club House parking lot. Look for a "Bird Walk Here" sign. We will start promptly at 8:30 am regardless of the weather and should finish by 10:30 am.
Dress for the weather and be prepared to walk paved trails and occasionally on wet grassy fairways. There is some elevation change but we will not be moving quickly as we stop frequently for birds. No birding experience is necessary. Bring your binoculars and a bird guide if you have one. The walk is not recommended for children under 6. Please leave your pets at home.
Ebird hotspot site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L16295752Let's Go Birding!
The Leader will make and share an ebird list and share it with your ebird account. Individual lists are discouraged because they duplicate the data, but you can edit your list once it's shared to you.20 attendees
First Friday Bird Walk at Lake Benson Park 2026-03-06 (Register Off-Meetup)
Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Rd, Garner, NC, USEnjoy an easy walk at Lake Benson Park while looking and listening for birds. Learn how to identify the birds in our area and discover their behaviors and preferred habitats. This walk is great for first-time and experienced birdwatchers. Pre-registration is required. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair. Walk leader is Colleen Bockhahn.
RSVP ONLY via the Town of Garner website at: Program: First Friday Bird Walk (3/6/26)
Registration deadline is 3 pm on March 5th.The specific meeting location in the park will be shared with registered participants. Questions or trouble registering? Email Colleen at cbockhahn@garnernc.gov.
1 attendee
LGBTQ+ Beginner Birders Program: Learn to Bird 2026.03.07 (Register off Meetup)
Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park, 5229 Awls Haven Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614, Raleigh, NC, US*Complete this form to register. *This free workshop requires registration OFF Meetup.
Beginner Birders Program with Wake Audubon, Field Inclusive, Inc. and Raleigh Parks.
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: 9:00* a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (*Please arrive 15 minutes early to reach the Education Center from parking and check-in; arrive 8:40 a.m. if also 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 Beginning Birding workshop.
This free public program teaches the basics of bird identification; how to use binoculars, guides and apps; types of bird safety and ways to bird safely; and the importance of inclusion and allyship in birding and the outdoors. We’ll spend time outside putting your learning to quick use.
Our route outside will consist of a mix of paved, gravel, and grassy surfaces with slight gradients. All-gendered restrooms will be available.
No binoculars? No problem! We have plenty of loaners to spare.
Note: Participation may be capped due to space restrictions, at which time notice of a wait list will be added to the top of the registration form. Please continue to register to join the waitlist. Should we receive cancellations, we’ll right away invite those on waitlist to confirm in the order registrations were received.
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 March 7!
2 attendees
Past events
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