Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup

Registration is open via the link below, and at 6 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 12 here on Meetup.
LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Prairie Ridge Ecostation!
Saturday, December 7, 9 - 10:30 a.m. (arrive at 8:45 if you need binoculars)
RSVP to this event here on Meetup. Or off-Meetup via this form if you prefer to keep your RSVP private.

Sponsors: Wake Audubon and Field Inclusive Inc., in partnership with the LGBT Center of Raleigh and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
Let’s commence December 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, Field Inclusive 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.
We’ll take a leisurely stroll along gently sloped grassy trails through prairie grassland and bottomland forest, and see and listen for the various birds to be found among the habitats. The unpaved path is 1 mile or so depending on our pace.

Borrow binoculars from us or bring your own. If borrowing binoculars, please arrive at 8:45 to be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight.

Driving directions: GPS to 1671 Gold Star Dr., Raleigh. Entrance is a short distance down Gold Star Dr. from Reedy Creek Rd. Turn onto the gravel drive and parking area. You'll see Wake Audubon's chimney swift roost tower to the right. Park, then meet at the top left of the lot at the pass-through gate into the grasslands.
Two all-gender restrooms are onsite a short distance from this pass-through.

What bird species frequent the Park? Check out Prairie Ridge Ecostation bird sightings ahead of us adding a checklist of our own on ebird.org.
Our leader is Kyra Thurow Bartow (she/her), 919-971-8648, with co-leaders along to help with optics and bird sightings.

Questions ahead? Reach 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 December 7!

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.
Field Inclusive, Inc. amplifies and supports marginalized and historically excluded field biologists and envisions a world in which the outdoors feels safe and welcoming regardless of personal identity.
The LGBT Center of Raleigh envisions an inclusive world where LGBTQ+ people are thriving, equal, and valued members of society.

Time: Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Nature Research Center, 121 W. Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Topic: The Legacy of the Christmas Bird Count
Speaker is Dr. Brian O'Shea, Collections Manager, Ornithology, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
For more information, see: https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count
Location: In-person + Zoom
Place: In-person + Virtual

• Location: NC Museum of Natural Sciences: Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC - 4th floor meeting room

Park (for free after 6:30 pm) and walk to the main museum entrance on Jones Street, just to the right of the giant globe. Since the NCSM is closed at night, someone will be at the door ONLY from 7 to 7:45 to let you in, so be on time. Take the elevator to the fourth floor meeting room. The east-facing entrance to the "old wing" of the museum will not be used. If you feel unwell, please stay home and enjoy our presentation over Zoom.
Join the Zoom meeting

• Meeting code: 831 3786 5298
• Password: 4Birds
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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 2024-10-21 by Beegle
WATCH for updates

REGISTER OFF MEETUP

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024, 8:00 TO 10:30 AM
Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve, 4409 Mial Plantation Road, Raleigh, NC
Note: RSVP's are closed on Meetup but you can register on the TLC site.

Join Wake Audubon and Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) for a morning of birding and exploring the Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve near the Wake County / Johnston County line. Our experienced birder will guide you through the meadow and Two Ponds Loop covering about 2 miles of mostly dirt trails. Join this wonderful morning stroll and see what birds you can find. Please wear good walking shoes and layers, bring a water bottle, and binoculars if you have them. We suggest that you leave your furry friends at home for this hike as dogs may scare away wildlife viewing opportunities. This is a free event, but REGISTRATION ON TLC's WEBSITE IS REQUIRED .

Whether you're a seasoned birder or just starting out, this is a great chance to connect with nature and learn about the diverse bird species that call the grasslands, woodlands, and ponds home. Check out what we may find here: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4669077

TLC maintains a waitlist, so be sure to join TLC's waitlist if their event is full. Joining our Meetup waitlist for this event will NOT register you for this event.

VERY IMPORTANT: After a heavy rain, the preserve may be closed to prevent erosion, so we may have to cancel the outing. You should receive an email from TLC if the event is cancelled and we will update this post.

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

Thanks, Frank, for volunteering to be the trip leader!

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.

RSVP ONLY via the Town of Garner website at: Program: Friday Morning Bird Walks
Registration deadline is 3pm on December 19th.

The specific meeting location in the park will be shared with registered participants. Questions or trouble registering? Email Colleen at [email protected].

RSVP ONLY via the Town of Garner website at: Program: Winter Waterfowl Workshop
Registration deadline is 12pm on December 20th.
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 [email protected].

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 115 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.

More information on the North Carolina Museum of Art website: https://park.ncartmuseum.org/

Map of the 164-acre Museum Park:
https://park.ncartmuseum.org/assets/pdf/Park-Map-Web.pdf

Turn RIGHT when you enter via Reedy Creek Road entrance for the NC Museum of Art. Meet in upper parking lot close to the big smokestack and Welcome Center (northern end of the main lot). Look for people with binoculars. Restrooms at Welcome Center are open and handicap accessible.

Admission to the Art Museum is free; opens at 10. Backpacks, binoculars, and long-lens cameras are not allowed in the museum, but they have free lockers to stow these items.

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Ebird Hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L21844918
See you there!

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

Thanks, Frank, for volunteering to be the trip leader!

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.