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
15
Nocturnal Nature: An Evening Wildlife Walk (Raleigh Parks event, $5 fee)
Durant Nature Park, 3237 Spottswood Street, Raleigh, NC, USNocturnal Nature: An Evening Wildlife Walk (Raleigh Parks event, $5 fee)
Date/time: Thursday, October 23, 2025, 6:00-7:30 PM
Location**: Durant Nature Preserve **SOUTH entrance (**3237 Spottswood Street)**
Description: Join us for an evening/night hike to see bats, look for spiders, listen for owls, and experience other creatures that go "bump" in the night. Children must be accompanied by adults. Preregistration is required for planning purposes.
Cost: $5Register Off-site only (which is why the Meetup RSVP option is closed): Requires a free login and password for Raleigh Parks website.
Login first at Raleigh Parks
Then register for this event at:
Registration link: https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=402328709Note: the information sent to Wake Audubon specifies the South Entrance, 3237 Spottswood -- but, the signup link might say it is the North entrance on Camp Durant Road. So make sure you read the email that they will send to you a day or two before the event.
This event is published on Wake Audubon Meetup in cooperation with Raleigh Parks and Recreation. For questions and more information, contact Tracy Feldman, (he/him/his), the Assistant Manager of Durant and Horseshoe Farm Preserves, at tracy.feldman@raleighnc.gov
1 attendee
Hilltop-Needmore Park (North), 2025-10-25
Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve, 4621 Shady Greens Dr, Fuquay-Varina, NC, USHilltop-Needmore Park (North)
Saturday, OCTOBER 25, 2025
Time: 8:30 to 10:30 am
4621 Shady Greens Drive, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Leaders: Kyra Bartow (leaders also include Larry Zoller and David Southwick)
Free Bird Outing with Wake AudubonJoin us for a Wake Audubon bird outing at Hilltop-Needmore Park on the fourth Saturday of most months (check here for updates). You can RSVP after the Wake Audubon newsletter publishes on AUGUST 1.
We will meet at the lower end of the old Club House parking lot. Look for a "Bird Walk Here" sign. We will start promptly at 8:30 am regardless of the weather and should finish by 10:30 am.
Dress for the weather and be prepared to walk paved trails and occasionally on wet grassy fairways. There is some elevation change but we will not be moving quickly as we stop frequently for birds. No birding experience is necessary. Bring your binoculars and a bird guide if you have one. The walk is not recommended for children under 6. Please leave your pets at home.
Ebird hotspot site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L16295752
The hotspot has over 120 birds observed!Let's Go Birding!
The Leader will make and share an ebird list and share it with your ebird account. Individual lists are discouraged because they duplicate the data, but you can edit your list once it's shared to you.9 attendees
LGBTQ+ Beginner Birders Program: Learn to Bird 2025.10.25 (RSVP off meetup)
Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson Street, Raleigh, NC, US*Complete this form to register. *This free workshop requires registration OFF meetup.
LGBTQ+ Beginner Birders Program: Learn to Bird!
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (Arrive 10 minutes early to check in; arrive by 8:40 if borrowing binoculars)
Location: Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson St. Raleigh, NC 27610Hosting this event expressly for the LGBTQ+ community is workshop sponsors Wake Audubon and City of Raleigh Parks in partnership with the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Collectively we’re striving for everyone to feel welcome, safe and included in the natural sciences and outdoors.
‘Birding’ – or, the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby – has become one of the most popular outdoor activities. If you are taking a new interest in birds and looking for help getting started, come develop your skills together with others at our Beginner Birders workshop
We’ll discuss terminology, field guides and popular apps (bring your phone!), birding safely, and choosing, using and adjusting binoculars, with loaner binoculars provided (or bring your own if you have them). We’ll spend time outdoors to identify resident birds – and visitors migrating through – using the tools that you’ll now have.
Our route outside will consist of flat, paved concrete and asphalt trails. Gendered restrooms will be available. Snacks, coffee, and tea will be provided.
Participation may be capped due to space restrictions. Reach Wake Audubon board director and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging co-chair Rick LaRose at rlarose.was@gmail.com with any questions.
We look forward to building your beginner birding skills together with you on October 25.
Then, come along the following weekend, November 2, to build your skill and enjoy community with others on our LGBTQ+ and allies Let's Go Birding Together outing at Shelley Lake Park (see separate meetup listing at https://www.meetup.com/wake-audubon-meetup/events/311521129/).
2 attendees
Past events
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