Calendar

Volunteers Needed for Invasive Plant Removal at Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park (CHJEEP) on Thursday, October 9, 2025, 9 - 11 am

Location is 301 Wagstaff Rd., Fuquay-Varina 27526

Leader: Jim Hunsberger, [email protected]

Please join Wake Audubon volunteers and help with invasive plant removal at CHJEEP. This helps the birds and other wildlife.

We will meet in the parking lot of CHJEEP.

Town staff will be on hand with a debris trailer. They will use targeted herbicide treatments as necessary after we remove the plants (thus, we don't have to struggle to dig out the roots).

Volunteers: wear closed toe shoes or boots, bring work gloves, a hat, bug repellent, sun screen, and water. We also recommend safety goggles.  If you have your own small limb loppers or shears, you may bring those as well, but not necessary. No power tools, please.

Thanks for helping to improve the flora of this lovely park! "The focus of this 28-acre park is environmental education. Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park was originally a 20-acre tract of land donated to the Town of Fuquay-Varina in 1992 by the late Mayor Alfred Johnson and his wife Carroll Howard Johnson. Eight acres were donated by Horace Tart in 1998, enlarging the park to its current 28 acres.

Get back to nature at the Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park. Explore the 2-mile nature trail and uncover the natural treasures in Fuquay-Varina. Crossing beautiful overlooks and natural bridges, visitors will find a path of wooded splendor, local flora and fauna, and many species of birds that highlight the everyday wonders of Fuquay-Varina’s nature."

Thanks for helping out!

(Rain date is Wednesday April 30)

Early Birders at Prairie Ridge (NO LEADER, 2025-10-10 7 AM or later)
Early Birders welcome at Prairie Ridge Ecostation on:
Friday, O TOBER 10, 7 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/ (https://naturalsciences.org/calendar/event/early-birds-2024-10-11/2024-11-08/)
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! : )

Birding at Williamson Preserve

When: Friday,  OCTOBER 10, 2025, 8:00 - 10:30 am

Where: Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve, 4409 Mial Plantation Road, Raleigh

Leader: Marc Ribaudo 

Note: 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 canceled. 

Sign up using this link; a waitlist is available if the walk is full!
https://triangleland.org/explore/events
and scroll to the Wake Audubon event. 

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 volunteer birder, Marc Ribaudo, will guide you through the meadow and Two Ponds Loop covering about 2 miles of soft trails. Please wear good walking shoes and bring a water bottle, and binoculars if you have them. More info available on Meetup.

WAKE AUDUBON BIRD OUTING: OCTOBER 11, 2025, 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