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- Early Birders at Prairie Ridge (NO LEADER, 2025-09-19)Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, NC
Early Birders at Prairie Ridge (NO LEADER, 2025-09-19, 6:45 AM or later)
Early Birders welcome at Prairie Ridge Ecostation on:
Friday, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025, 6:45 AM or any time thereafter!
Leader: NONE. Bird on your own or with people you meet.
Address: 1671 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh. Do NOT park outside the gates.The Prairie Ridge staff are opening the gates EARLY, ONE FRIDAY A MONTH, so that birders can come enjoy early morning birding.
And yes, you can arrive ANY TIME after the start time!
Visit the event website here: https://naturalsciences.org/calendar/venue/prairie-ridge/
Normal hours of operation for Prairie Ridge Ecostation are Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm (closed on Sunday and Monday) and closed on most state holidays.
Please note that there is no official birding program happening.Their website says: "Mornings can be an especially magical time in nature, so we are pleased to welcome Early Birds at Prairie Ridge! Bring binoculars or a camera and go for a bird walk, take a hike on our trails, bring a morning picnic, go for a trail run, watch the sunrise – come take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy Prairie Ridge earlier than our usual opening hours one Friday a month!
This is a drop-in, self-guided birding or exploration opportunity designed to give you extra morning time at Prairie Ridge — we hope you enjoy!
No pre-registration is required. Rain cancels event.Assume no facilities will be available.
See their website for maps and other information.
https://naturalsciences.org/prairie-ridge
Follow along on Facebook @prairieridge
NOTE: Prairie Ridge is NOT a wheelchair accessible site; it has all soft trails.
It is best to wear long sleeves and boots for your visit.
NO DOGS are allowed at Prairie Ridge Ecostation.
The restrooms in the building near the Purple Martin houses might be open. The brick building is not open to the general public.
Hope to see some birders out nice and early! : )
- Early Bird at Durant Nature Preserve, (Register offsite) 2025-09-20Campbell Lodge, Raleigh, NC
Early Bird at Durant Nature Preserve (registration required off Meetup)
Saturday, September 20, 2025, 8 am - 9:30 am
Register Off-site only: Requires a login and password:
Login FIRST at Raleigh Parks LoginTHEN register for this free event at:
https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=401672991
(The link won't work unless you are already logged in)
Workshop code is 'DUNPEARLYBIRD"Grab your binoculars and meet us at beautiful Durant Nature Preserve for a bird-watching hike led by Wake Audubon guest naturalist, Lynn Erla Beegle. Spend your morning watching and learning about birds that prefer meadows and forest edges on this approximately 1.5 mile hike. For beginning and advanced birders. Bring your binoculars, or borrow a pair of ours. Pre-registration is required. Limited to City of Raleigh residents.
LOCATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
Meet in the SOUTH parking lot at Durant Nature Preserve 3237 Spottswood Street Raleigh (note there is also a north parking lot on Camp Durant Road but you cannot drive from one lot to the other).Not open - Breakfast & Slow Birding at Lake Lynn Park with Wake Audubon & NAMI Wake CountyLake Lynn Community Center, Raleigh, NC
Breakfast and Slow Birding at Lake Lynn Park
Saturday, September 20, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. (Arrive 8:30 a.m. for food and fellowship; 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 introduces 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. Such as great blue heron patiently stalking prey. And box turtles with legs splayed out, sunning themselves on nearby snags.Our guide will be NAMI Wake County Executive Director Mark Simon.
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 member 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
- Meet in the ample parking lot at Lake Lynn Park community center, 7921 Ray Road. Raleigh, NC 27613. The lot is tiered; park on either level.
- Follow the Wake Audubon | NAMI Wake County signs to our gathering place at the far end of the lot, closest to the community center.
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) and coffee as we all greet and enjoy community with each other. 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
During this time, we’ll assist anyone to borrow binoculars. Please arrive at 8:30 to be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight. 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.
The community center opens at 9 a.m. for anyone needing to use restrooms (gendered) or refill a water bottle.
We’ll commence the outing right away afterwards.We’ll traverse some slight inclines and declines along a paved trail before reaching the flat of the over-water boardwalk (wooden slats) and paved trail that we’ll bird along after.
Most paved trail is through shady woodland, and most boardwalk in the sun, so come prepared for both.For those unfamiliar with birding Lake Lynn Park, a section of willows along the boardwalk often provides great promise for migrating warblers this time of year.
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, September 20!
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.
