Calendar

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

Reschedule to Saturday, February 7, 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.
Yes - we're hosting outings at Shelley Lake Park on back-to-back weekends. With resident eagles and great blue herons actively nesting this time of year - it's a great place to be!

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 parking lot 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 [email protected].

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.

Raleigh Parks: Winter Wildlife (RSVP $5)

Saturday, FEBRUARY 7, 2026, 10 am - noon

Register Off-site only: Requires a login and password:

Login first at https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html

Then register for this $5 event at:

https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=441420996

Location: Durant Nature Preserve, South entrance (3237 Spottswood Street)

We'll walk around and look for wildlife that is active in winter.  We'll talk about ways large and small living things survive the winter season, and the benefits and costs of being active in winter.  Bring your binoculars or borrow a pair of ours. Also bring a warm coat.  Children must be accompanied by adults. 
Pre-registration is required and the fee is $5.

Raleigh Parks: Winter Botany (Tree Detectives) (RSVP $5)

Saturday, FEBRUARY 7, 2026, 2 pm - 4 pm

Register Off-site only: Requires a login and password:

Login first at https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html

Then register for this $5 event at:

https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=441422234

Location: Durant Nature Preserve, South entrance (3237 Spottswood Street)

Even without leaves, it is possible to use clues on branches (and sometimes fallen leaves nearby) to figure out which trees are which.  We'll walk around playing plant detective, and see how many different trees we can find.  Registration cost includes a tree ID guide.  Bring a warm coat! Children must be accompanied by adults. 
Pre-registration is required and the fee is $5.

Raleigh Parks: Watching the Woodcock Aerial Ballet

(RSVP $5)

Wednesday, FEBRUARY 11, 2026, 5 pm - 7 pm

Register Off-site only: Requires a login and password:

Login first at https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html

Then register for this $5 event at:

https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=441407924

Location: Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve, 2900 Horse Shoe Farm Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587, USA

 Woodcocks are woodland shorebirds that look kind of like footballs.  Males do a surprisingly graceful aerial "dance" at dusk to attract mates in winter and early spring.  Come watch one of the wonders of the bird world.  Bring your binoculars or borrow a pair of ours. Also bring a warm coat!  Children must be accompanied by adults. 
Pre-registration is required and the fee is $5.

Raleigh Parks: Great Backyard Bird Count Birdfeeders (RSVP $6)

Saturday, FEBRUARY 13, 2026, 4 pm - 5 pm

Register Off-site only: Requires a login and password:

Login first at https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html

Then register for this $5 event at:

https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=441424081

Location: Durant Nature Preserve, South entrance (3237 Spottswood Street)

Prepare for the Great Backyard Bird Count by making your very own bird feeder and learn some of your common backyard birds! Made from all natural materials, this feeder will encourage birds to visit your yard so you can start contributing to community science! Children must be accompanied by adults. Children AND adults must preregister and pay the program fee. 
Pre-registration is required and the fee is $6.

WAKE AUDUBON BIRD OUTING: FEBRUARY 14, 2026, from 8:30 to 10:00.
Location: Wendell Community Park, 601 West 3rd Street, Wendell, NC
Leader: Frank D
This birdwalk repeats on the second Saturday of most months. Check Meetup ( https://www.meetup.com/wake-audubon-meetup/ ) and wakeaudubon.org calendars for updates.

Wendell Park is one of our easternmost Wake County hotspots. It has a range of habitats. It tends to get plenty of winter birds if conditions are right (not windy). 

Technically, an RSVP is not required for this birdwalk, but it is helpful.


Park in the grassy field on the left. Look for people with binoculars.

Wendell Park ebird hotspot: http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L5460345

Thank you for your interest in birding with others. Our Meetup is FREE to you and supported by Wake Audubon. We hope you will support us by joining Wake Audubon Society ($20 per year) and by donations and by volunteering. See http://wakeaudubon.org/support/ for more information

Early Bird at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve (registration required off Meetup)

Saturday, FEBRUARY 21, 2026, 8 am - 9:30 am

Register Off-site only: Requires a login and password:

Login first at https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/splash.html

Then register for this free event at:

https://ncraleighweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=441387106

Or Click on Search -- Activity Search and type in "EARLY BIRD"

Grab your binoculars and meet us at beautiful Horseshoe Farm 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.

Meet in the parking lot at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve 2900 Horseshoe Farm Rd, Wake Forest, NC, 27587 . Note: Allow time for road construction at 401 and Ligon Mill Road.

Join Jessica W and  Wake Audubon for a Bird Outing at Bass Lake on Sunday, FEBRUARY 22, 2026,  8:15 
The park opens at 8 am. The address is 900 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs, NC (note that this is the main parking lot, not the smaller lot on another road). Meet at the end of the parking lot near the building. This  2+ mile walk on unpaved trails begins at 8:15 and ends shortly after 10:30. 
**This outing is on soft trails. We might cover the east side of the lake and then walk to the adjacent Sugg Farm, which is also part of Bass Lake Park. Wear shoes that can take a bit of mud as the trail if it has rained recently.
Leader is Jessica Williams ([email protected], 913-424-5062).

Free Birding trip with Wake Audubon at Hilltop-Needmore Park NORTH

4621 Shady Greens Drive, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

Leaders: Larry Zoller and Kyra Thurow Bartow 

Location: Lower Clubhouse Parking Lot

Date: Saturday,  FEBRUARY 28, 2026,  8:30 to 10:30 AM

Come join Wake Audubon for a winter morning bird walk on the North Trail.  The walk is leisurely with frequent stops for birds. There are elevation changes but we often stop to enjoy birds. Please wear shoes good for walking on the dew-covered grassy fairway. Anyone 6 years and up are welcome to join us!

The path we take includes steep inclines, but no stairs.

This walk is usually on the fourth Saturday of most months. 

Ebird hotspot site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L16295752

Let's Go Birding!