What we’re about
This group enjoys local (and regional) trips to see wildlife in the Raleigh, Wake County area of North Carolina. We focus on birdwatching, and we enjoy teaching anyone who is new to birding. We welcome visitors to the area who want to attend our trips.
We also volunteer for various events, including river cleanups, prairie management at local parks, nestbox maintenance, helping with events at various parks and museums, and "citizen science" projects (such as Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count).
Wake Audubon has a group for youth (teens 12 - 18); you can read more about the Young Naturalists Group at http://www.wakeaudubon.org/ync.htm as the trips for YN are not posted on this Meetup site.
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: http://www.wakeaudubon.org/join.htm Wake Audubon meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh. The meeting is open to the public.
Wake Audubon Society is a member of Audubon NC and of the National Audubon Society. We have a membership of about 1,200 and hold monthly meetings, field trips, bird walks and other activities. Wake Audubon is made up of a diverse group of people with a variety of interests and specialties; we're not just birders. Wake Audubon members share a common interest in wildlife, nature and environmental conservation: http://www.wakeaudubon.org/what_we_do.htm
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- Wake Audubon Meeting:From Wasteland to Wonder: Easy Ways We Can Help Heal EarthNature Research Center, Raleigh, NC
Saturday, JANUARY 18, 2025: Wake Audubon Society monthly meeting, 11 am to 12:30 MOVED FROM JANUARY 14 TO A MORNING PRESENTATION in the Daily Planet Theater, Nature Research Center (NC Museum of Natural Science), 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA. Note that parking is free on Saturdays.
Presentation Title:
From Wasteland to Wonder – Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban LandscapeUpdate from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences: As of January 8, the event has a registration link - https://naturalsciences.ticketapp.org/portal/product/132 -
Participation is free, and registration is available but does not reserve a seat in the Theater. Theater seating will be available first-come, first-served. The theater seats 100 (if you count chairs on all floors that can see the theater screens).This presentation by Basil Camu, author of the book From Wasteland to Wonder – Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape , addresses how we can implement on our properties practices that help heal Earth based on first-hand expertise developed at Leaf & Limb ( https://www.leaflimb.com/ )
Basil Camu will begin with the easiest concepts, like planting saplings and saving mature trees. Then he’ll move to some more challenging, more impactful approaches, like planting pocket forests and replacing our lawns with Piedmont Prairies. Finally, for those who want to help shift paradigms even more, Basil will discuss how we can use the Project Pando model to work with our community to gather native seeds, raise them into trees, and give them away for free."The way we currently manage the suburban and urban landscape is creating a wasteland and harming the well-being of Earth. We pave over forests, use giant machines to scrape away healthy soil, and turn thriving grasslands into dead lawns. Rain is unable to soak into the ground and instead rushes downhill, causing erosion and flooding. We repeatedly soak the land in toxic chemicals that kill life. There is little food for the birds, butterflies, and bees that need it. These efforts are costly, time-intensive, and increase CO2 in the atmosphere."
"Fortunately, we have an alternative path: we can work with natural systems instead of working against them. By doing so, we can help heal Earth. We also save time and money because we perform fewer tasks and use fewer products. Caring for trees, soil, and the well-being of Earth can yield a more beautiful world than what we have experienced previously. It can fill our lives with joy and purpose; joy because we experience so many moments of wonder, and purpose because we feel empowered to help solve big issues using the spaces where we live, work, and play."
See this Youtube Video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLTHi9vqCkQ&list=PL9kdU-zPIhtT9m1LmcLP803JTIe-Dc5eH
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We hope you will help us by joining Wake Audubon and National Audubon!
http://wakeaudubon.org/get-involved/join/
*Last updated 1/4/25 by LEBeegle
- RESCHEDULED Pungo Winter Waterfowl Day Trip (Register Off Meetup)Pungo Unit Of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Pantego, NC
REGISTRATION REQUIRED HERE
RSVP closed since registration is required off Meetup.Don’t miss Pungo in winter–Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, wintering ducks, and maybe even Sandhill Cranes make this special part of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge extra exciting. Join us to experience migratory birds feeding and resting in the refuge alongside resident wildlife.
General plan:
10 AM - Participants depart the Raleigh area in a caravan or independently. Carpooling is highly encouraged.1:30 ~ 5:30 pm - Birding. We will caravan over several miles of rough dirt roads stopping at multiple viewing locations along the way. We will travel mostly by vehicle, but participants should be prepared to walk on uneven ground for up to a mile.
5:30 PM - Latest departure. The refuge closes as dusk. Return at your leisure.
Additional details will be provided to registered participants.
Notes:
Space is limited to 14 participants.Drive time is about 2.5 - 3 hours from the Raleigh area.
It is possible that portions of the road will be closed or impassable by low clearance vehicles.
Bring water and snacks (and lunch/dinner or stop on the way).
Dress in layers appropriate for the weather. We will be in and out of vehicles, but the conditions may be cold and wet. Wear sturdy shoes, preferably water resistant or waterproof if you have them.
Let the trip leader know if you need a ride or binoculars when you register. Scopes will be available.
A signed waiver will be required of all participants.
Vehicle costs are at your own expense.
RSVPs not accepted on Meetup. Participants must register at the link above.
Snow Geese photo via Walker Golder.
Not open - Winter Waterfowl Workshop at White Deer Park 2025-01-25 (Register Off-Meetup)White Deer Park Nature Center, Garner, NC
One of the highlights of winter is the arrival of migrating waterfowl at local lakes and ponds! Learn how to identify the various types of ducks, geese, and other species of birds that visit each winter. Instructor Colleen Bockhahn will cover field marks, behavior, and more during a presentation at the Nature Center, followed by a field trip to Lake Benson Park to test those new identification skills. This program is for beginner birders as well as experienced birders looking to refresh their winter waterfowl knowledge.
RSVP ONLY via the Town of Garner website at: Program: Winter Waterfowl Workshop
Registration deadline is 12pm on January 24th.
There is a fee for this program ($3 for Town of Garner residents, $5 for non-residents). Participants will receive a Waterfowl ID Guide to keep.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 - Project Pando Tour at Leaf & LimbLear & Limb Pando , Raleigh, NC
Project Pando Tour at Leaf & Limb
Saturday, January 25, 2025, 11 am to 1 pm.
Leader is Patrick Munley.
Address is Leaf & Limb, 511 Nowell Road, Raleigh
Take a free tour of the grounds, showing Piedmont Prairies, Pocket Forests, Air Pruning Boxes, and more!
Please register using this link: Here is the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wake-audubon-society-field-trip-at-leaf-limb-tickets-1138332355719?aff=oddtdtcreatorOr RSVP below.
Project Pando is Leaf & Limb's non-profit where we connect people with trees to help heal the planet. We work with our community to collect seeds from native trees and shrubs. We grow these seeds into saplings and then give them away for free. We support this work with research, education, and events that help further our goals.
On this trip we will provide a tour of the facility, talk about Project Pando, and tour seed processing, air pruning boxes, and how this ties to Wake Audubon. Limit 60 participants. Parking on site.
