LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Green Hills and Abbotts Creek

LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail via Green Hills County Park
Saturday, June 28, 8:15 - 10:30 a.m. (arrive at 8:05 if borrowing binoculars)
RSVP to this event here on Meetup. Or off-Meetup via this form if you prefer to keep your RSVP private.

Sponsors: Wake Audubon, in partnership with The LGBT Center of Raleigh and Field Inclusive Inc.

Let’s welcome summer with another affirming and inclusive bird outing. We welcome the LGBTQ+ community, allies, families, and anyone who wants to enjoy an outdoor experience that is inclusive. Why? Because the outdoors has not always been a welcoming place for persons who identify as LGBTQ+. Wake Audubon, The LGBT Center of Raleigh, and Field Inclusive seek to help change that.

The pace of this outing will be specifically geared towards building our beginner birding skills; birders of all talents are welcome.

Starting from sunny Green Hills County Park we'll traverse a paved trail to get to Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail. Abbotts Creek Greenway is a lovely boardwalk and paved trail through a mostly shady woodland, then a marsh with (hopefully) red-headed woodpeckers and lots of easy to see birds. Total length is a tad over 2 miles depending on our pace.

Green Hills has plenty of parking, and restrooms at the playground parking where we'll meet, and meadow birds like hawks and Indigo Bunting.

After the outing, those with stamina can take the 1/4-mile steep Green Hills County Park trail up the hilltop, where the 360-degree view includes the downtown Raleigh and North Hills skylines!

Driving directions:
Meet at Green Hills County Park playground, 9300 Deponie Dr. Raleigh, NC 27614.
Allow 5 extra minutes to circle the long park drive to reach the parking lot adjacent to the restrooms, playground, and covered seating.
Look for Erla and Rick in this lot, with back hatches to our cars open.

Borrow binoculars from us or bring your own.
If borrowing binoculars, please arrive to the parking lot at 8:05 to be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight. The gate into Green Hills opens at 8 a.m.

There are two gendered restrooms and drinking water. Please bring your own refillable water bottle. We'll bring plenty of snacks to share.

What bird species frequent the Park and Trail? Check out Green Hills County Park and Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail sightings on ebird.org ahead of us adding a checklist of our own.
Green hills to Abbotts: https://ebird.org/checklist/S37111847
Abbotts: https://ebird.org/checklist/S37111996

Our leader is Lynn Erla Beegle (she/her), 919-673-6136, with co-leaders along to help with optics and bird sightings. Reach Erla with any day-of-event questions.

Questions ahead? Reach host and Wake Audubon board member and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging co-chair Rick LaRose (he/him) at rlarose.was@gmail.com.

We’re looking forward to birding together with you on June 28!

Wake Audubon advocates wildlife, nature and environmental conservation with a commitment to providing activities where all can safely access and celebrate nature as their authentic selves.
The LGBT Center of Raleigh envisions an inclusive world where LGBTQ+ people are thriving, equal, and valued members of society.
Field Inclusive, Inc. amplifies and supports marginalized and historically excluded field biologists and envisions a world in which the outdoors feels safe and welcoming regardless of personal identity.