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- First Friday Bird Walk at Lake Benson Park 2025-09-05 (Register Off-Meetup)Lake Benson Park, Garner, NC
FREE guided bird walk at Lake Benson Park on Friday, September 5, 2025.
RSVP ONLY via the Town of Garner website at: Program: First Friday Bird Walk (9/5/25)
You will need to create an account to register.
Registration deadline is 12 pm on September 4th.Enjoy 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
The specific meeting location in the park will be shared with registered participants. Questions or trouble registering? Email Colleen at cbockhahn@garnernc.gov.
Not open - Birding with Vernon at Lake Crabtree 2025-09-06 - Register Off MeetupLake Crabtree County Park, Cary, NC
Birding with Vernon
Saturday, September 6, 2025, 8:30–10 a.m.
Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Parkway, Cary, NCJoin our bird enthusiast, Vernon, for an easy walk while looking and listening for our feathered friends. Discover different types of birds and their habitats. Bring your own binoculars and field guides if you have them. Beginners and experienced birdwatchers are welcome! Minors must attend with a registered adult, and all participants must pre-register off Meetup. Open to ages 8 and up. Register Online at Activity detail | Wake Parks Online
Not open - Native Plant Swap at White Deer Park Nature Center (PM Session) 2025-09-07White Deer Park Nature Center, Garner, NC
Join 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: Program: Native Plant SwapQuestions about the swap? Email Colleen Bockhahn at cbockhahn@garnernc.gov
Not open - Wake Audubon Meeting: Invasive Mollusks of NCNature Research Center, Raleigh, NC
Wake Audubon Monthly Meeting: Invasive Mollusks of NC
(Meeting is In Person and Zoom) (Subject to change)Time: Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Nature Research Center, 121 W. Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601
The Silent Threats: Invasive mollusks of North Carolina
Arthur Bogan Ph.D. FLS
Sept. 9,2025
Location: NCMNS Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27603 and ZoomIn our presentation we will examine the invasive freshwater and terrestrial mollusks found in North Carolina. We will cover their biology, distribution and hazards to other wildlife including humans. Some of these species are used as food items but can be a potential source of parasites. These invasive species have a direct impact on their local environment and compete with the native fauna.
Following the presentation from Art Bogan, John Gerwin will give a brief overview of the relationships of Snail Kites and Limpkin to the snails they feed on.Speaker Bio: Arthur Bogan is the Research Curator of Mollusks at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and his research focuses on the freshwater bivalve fauna of North Carolina and its relation to the rest of the Southeastern United States. The presentation is the joint work with Jamie Smith, the Collection Manager of the Mollusk collection at NCMNS.
Place: In-person + Virtual
- Location: NC Museum of Natural Sciences: Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC - 4th floor meeting room
Park (for free after 6:30 pm) and walk to the main museum entrance on Jones Street, just to the right of the giant globe. Since the NCSM is closed at night, someone will be at the door ONLY from 7 to 7:45 to let you in, so be on time. Take the elevator to the fourth floor meeting room. The east-facing entrance to the "old wing" of the museum (on Independence Plaza) will not be used. If you feel unwell, please stay home and enjoy our presentation over Zoom. RSVP is optional, and RSVP will open about a month before the meeting.
https://www.zoom.us/joinMeeting code: 831 3786 5298
- Password: 4Birds
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We hope you will help us by joining Wake Audubon and National Audubon!
*Last updated 2025-08-24 by Beegle
WATCH for updates: the date, location, and theme can change.