LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Shelley Lake Park

LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Shelley Lake Park
Sunday, November 2, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. (arrive at 8:15 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 and The LGBT Center of Raleigh.

Let’s enjoy fall 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 and The LGBT Center of Raleigh 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.

What our outing entails: Enter at 1400 West Millbrook Road, Raleigh in the parking lot for Sertoma Arts Center. Meet at the picnic tables to the right of the Center. We will walk down to the lake and enjoy the view from the long bridge, then walk some distance clockwise along the 2-mile loop of paved scenic greenway trails around the lake. We hope to see Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons (both nest along the trail), as well as woodpeckers, sparrows, cardinals, and early winter waterfowl. While the path is paved, we may step off to the side of it at times, or onto grassy fields. There are some inclines, down from the Center to the lake loop, and at intervals otherwise.

More info at https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/places/shelley-lake-park

Borrow binoculars from us or bring your own.
If borrowing binoculars, please arrive to the picnic tables meeting point at 8:15 to be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight.

There are two gendered restrooms and drinking water accessible from the parking lot. 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 Shelley Lake Park sightings on ebird.org ahead of us adding a checklist of our own.
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L882613

Our leader is Royce Marcus (he/him), with co-leaders along to help with optics and bird sightings. Text host Rick LaRose 919 609-7570 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 November 2!

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.