Breakfast and slow birding at E. Carroll Joyner Park 2025.11.15

Breakfast and Slow Birding at E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest
Saturday, November 15, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. (Arrive by 8:20 a.m. to make your way to our meeting spot away from the parking lot; enjoy food and fellowship 8:30 – 9 a.m.; birding begins at 9:00 a.m.)
Sponsors: Wake Audubon and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Wake County.
Step outside with NAMI Wake County and Wake Audubon for a morning of connection, calm, and curiosity.
This outing continues our new partnership with NAMI Wake County and a new format, with a slow pace to observe birds, relax in nature, and enjoy social connection.

Why partner together?
As more and more stressors impact our everyday lives, the toll on our mental health can be debilitating.
As remedy, birding, bird song, and time in nature are proven to ease stress, boost mood, promote community, and strengthen well-being. We’re a natural fit.

What is slow birding?
If new to you, slow birding is an approach to observing birds that majors on connection, mindfulness, and appreciation of the birds, wildlife and scenery around us.
While slow birding can take different forms, this outing is designed to appeal to persons who prefer a more relaxed birding environment, whereby we take time to identify birds, enjoy their song, watch their behavior, and notice their habitats, and the other wildlife around them.

Our guide will be NAMI Wake County Executive Director Mark Simon, with Wake Audubon helper guides along to assist.
An avid birder, Mark is grateful for how birding has served his own mental health and passionate about sharing this source of well-being with others.
Co-host will be Wake Audubon board director and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging event lead Rick LaRose (he/him), who serves to bring accessible and welcoming ways for everyone to enjoy birds and take part in nature, wherever they are in their life journeys.

Driving directions and logistics

• E. Carroll Joyner Park is located at 701 Harris Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587. If traveling north on Capital Boulevard (US 1), find Harris Road three miles north of the I-98/Capital interchange. Turn right (east) on Harris (it is called Purnell west of Capital) and follow Harris Road for about a half mile, where the park appears on your right. The first entrance is for the community center; continue to the main (second) entrance, which has a large sign. Again, we will NOT be meeting at or near the community center.
• From parking, find your way to the brick building housing restrooms, which is located adjacent to accessible parking.
• From there, follow the ‘Wake Audubon + NAMI’ signs along a paved path to picnic tables in the gazebo. Look for your co-hosts Rick and Mark. We’ll have lanyards or nametags on.

We’ll start by snacking on pastries (some gluten free) as we all greet and enjoy community with each other 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Bring your own breakfast beverage of choice if you'd like.

During this time, we’ll assist anyone to borrow binoculars. If borrowing binoculars, please arrive by 8:20 to allow time to reach our gathering spot, be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight, then grab a snack. There’s no requirement to use binoculars, yet, we’ll have plenty to borrow if you choose to do so and provide a safe space to learn.

Bring your own (refillable) water bottle if you intend to drink and/or carry water with you on the outing.

You’ll have passed the restrooms (gendered), and we’ll ask anyone needing to use them or refill a water bottle to please do so in time for our 9 a.m. birding start.

Our primary path will be paved and mostly flat. Any inclines and declines are navigable by wheelchair, with possible stops off path and onto grass as everyone is comfortable to do so. Be prepared for sun and shade (if a sunny day).

For those unfamiliar with birding E. Carroll Joyner Park, we’ll spend some time in a lovely pecan grove, traversing alongside a stone wall which birds seem to enjoy exploring – as we explore them.

For users of ebird, information on birds sighted at Joyner can be viewed here: http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L1057149

Questions ahead? Email event manager Rick LaRose at rlarose.was@gmail.com.
Text Rick on the day of the event with any questions at 919 609-7570.

We're looking forward to sharing community and birding together with you on Saturday, November 15!

Wake Audubon advocates birds, wildlife, nature, and environmental conservation with a commitment to providing activities where all can safely access and celebrate nature as their authentic selves.
NAMI Wake County is the local affiliate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We provide advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that people affected by mental illness can build better lives.