Calendar

May 17, 2024

|By Chris Robinson

	November 2025
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1 Wake Audubon Workday - Prairie Ridge Wake Audubon Workday - Prairie Ridge November 1, 2025 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA Wake Audubon Workday at Prairie Ridge Ecostation (Swift Tower Gardens) When: Saturday, November 1, 9:00 am to approximately 1:00 pm Where: Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh Meet at the base of the Chimney Swift tower near the entrance. Leaders: Robin and Randy Ruback We need several volunteers to join us to complete the fall cleanup around our native shrubs. Activities: 1. Weeding beds 2. Picking up and removal of debris, branches, etc. 3. Pruning of trees and shrubs What to bring: Work gloves and boots, a water bottle, lopping shears or hand snips, and, if you can, a pitchfork, metal rake, wheelbarrow, or any other tools you think would be helpful to the project. Come and stay as long as you're able; all help is appreciated! Please RSVP to Robin Ruback by October 29th at [email protected], so we are prepared for the size of the team. See more details Stream cleanup Biltmore hills park Stream cleanup Biltmore hills park November 1, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Biltmore Hills Park, 2615 Fitzgerald Dr, Raleigh, NC 27610, USA Biltmore Hills Adopt-A-Stream Cleanup When: Saturday, November 1 from 10 AM - NOON Where: Biltmore Hills Park, 2615 Fitzgerald Drive, Raleigh, NC Leader: Maria Mood-Brown Wake Audubon has adopted a section of the Walnut Creek tributary that runs through Biltmore Hills Park. We need volunteers for our Spring 2025 Stream Cleanup. Help us keep our waters clean! Registration: https://volunteer.activategood.org/opportunities/EqStcZGUpc Following registration, you will receive a waiver for the City of Raleigh. **Please also RSVP to [email protected] for communication of additional information or weather-related issues. Cleanup Details: Please meet us at the lowest Biltmore Hills parking lot next to the tennis courts. We will have drinks and snacks, safety vests, trash bags, gloves, buckets and trash grabbers. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get wet and dirty. Waterproof boots are recommended. There are no bridges to cross the small stream, so you may have to rock hop or step in the water to get to both sides. Also bring a water bottle, extra work gloves, bucket and hand clippers if you have them. Your phone, wallet, and car keys need to be SECURELY STOWED on your person. We will focus our cleanup on the corridor along the stream, in and beyond the park. Some of the area will be along the roadside. Registration Form: 1. Select: "Adopt a Stream Program" 2. On the map, enter: 2615 Fitzgerald Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27610 3. Adopt a Stream Group Name: Wake Audubon 4. Stream Selected for Adoption: Walnut Creek Tributary 5. Please Provide Additional Details for Adopt a Stream Location: Biltmore Hills Park and Newcombe Road 6. Your contact information Thank you for helping with this effort!More details will be added soon. See more details • •
2 LGBTQ+ and allies: Shelly Lake Park LGBTQ+ and allies: Shelly Lake Park November 2, 2025 8:30 am - 10:30 am 1400 W Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612, USA LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Shelley Lake Park Sunday, November 2, 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. 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. See more details •	3	4	5	6	7	8 NC Art Park Birding NC Art Park Birding November 8, 2025 8:00 am - 10:00 am Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, 1800 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA NCMA Goodnight Park birding is on the second Saturday of each month. Register via Wake Audubon Meetup, limited to 25 participants. Leader is LynnErla Beegle Location is Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, 1800 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA; meet outside the Park Welcome Center, near the old tall smokestack, west end of the parking lot. See more details •
9	10	11 Wake Audubon: Talking Turkey - History and Management Wake Audubon: Talking Turkey - History and Management November 11, 2025 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA Wake Audubon Monthly Meeting: Talking Turkey - History and Management Time: TUESDAY OVEMBER 11, 7:30 - 9:00 pm Nature Research Center, 121 W. Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601 Speaker: Hannah Plumpton is the Upland Game Bird Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. She is responsible for monitoring and managing the populations of wild turkey, ruffed grouse and northern bobwhite in North Carolina. Topic: Let's explore this fascinating yet often overlooked history of this iconic bird - the Wild Turkey, which is one of North America's greatest conservation success stories. In this presentation, we will examine what caused the drastic decline in Wild Turkey populations and the long winding road to recovery and beyond. Hannah will discuss how turkeys are monitored in North Carolina and the current challenges the Wild Turkey faces today. Place: In-person + Virtual via Zoom Location: NC Museum of Natural Sciences: Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC - 4th floor meeting room Location: In-person + Zoom (Note: The two speakers will be on Zoom ) Place: In-person + Virtual - use https://www.zoom.us/join , choose "Join meeting" (no login needed) Meeting code: 831 3786 5298 Password: 4Birds 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 NC Museum of Natural Sciences is usually closed at night, someone will be at the door ONLY from 7 to 7:45 to let you in, so please be on time. Take the elevator to the fourth floor meeting room. The east-facing entrance of the "old wing" of the museum will not be used. If you feel unwell, please stay home and enjoy our presentation over Zoom We hope you will help us by joining Wake Audubon and National Audubon! visit wakeaudubon.org *Last updated 2025-10-07 by Beegle WATCH for updates. Location and date sometime change! See more details •	12	13	14 Williamson Preserve: Reservation-only birdwalk Williamson Preserve: Reservation-only birdwalk November 14, 2025 8:00 am - 10:30 am Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve, 4409 Mial Plantation Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610, USA Birding at Williamson Preserve When: Friday, NOVEMBER 14, 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. See more details •	15 Durant birding - Registration required Durant birding - Registration required November 15, 2025 8:00 am - 9:30 am Durant Nature Preserve, 8305 Camp Durant Rd, Raleigh, NC 27614, USA Early Bird at Durant Nature Preserve (registration required off Meetup) Saturday, NOVEMBER 15, 2025, 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=401673945 Or click on Search - Keyword Search and type in "EARLY BIRD" Grab your binoculars and meet us at beautiful Durant Nature Preserve’s NORTHH entrance (end of Camp Durant Road, along edge of parking lot near picnic bench in Raleigh, NC) for a bird-watching hike led by Wake Audubon guest naturalist, Lynn Erla Beegle. Spend your morning watching and learning about birds that prefer forests and thickets 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. We will PROBABLY meet in the NORTH parking lot at Durant Nature Preserve on Camp Durant Road, but we may instead meet outside Campbell Lodge at the South entrance at 3237 Spottswood Street; you will find out a day or two before the walk when you register. You cannot drive from one lot to the other through the park, but it's a short walk if you go to the wrong parking lot. See more details •
16	17	18 Book Club - Wake Audubon MacGregor Starbucks Book Club - Wake Audubon MacGregor Starbucks November 18, 2025 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm Starbucks, 101 Edinburgh S Dr, Cary, NC 27511, USA Wake Audubon Book Club Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 6:45 pm to 8:00pm MacGregor Village STARBUCKS, 101 S Edinburgh Drive, Cary, NC. We will be discussing the novel The Overstory by Richard Powers. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, January 20,2026, at 6:45 at Starbucks or possibly ECPI University. Please bring a readily-available book to suggest for our next Book Club meeting. You are also encouraged to participate in our book exchange (bring books to give way or trade). Thanks See more details •	19	20 Invasive Plant Removal at CHJEEP Invasive Plant Removal at CHJEEP November 20, 2025 9:00 am - 11:00 am Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Park, 301 Wagstaff Rd, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526, USA Volunteers Needed for Invasive Plant Removal at Carroll Howard Johnson Environmental Education Park (CHJEEP) on Thursday, November 20, 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) See more details •	21 Early Birders at Prairie Ridge Early Birders at Prairie Ridge November 21, 2025 6:45 am - 9:15 am Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA Early Birders at Prairie Ridge (NO LEADER, 2025-11-21, 6:45 AM or later) Early Birders welcome at Prairie Ridge Ecostation on: Friday, NOVEMBER 21, 6:45 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 will open 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! : ) See more details •	22 Hilltop-Needmore Park (North) Bird Outing Hilltop-Needmore Park (North) Bird Outing November 22, 2025 8:30 am - 10:30 am Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve, 4621 Shady Greens Dr, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526, USA 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, NOVEMBER 22, 2025, 8:30 to 10:30 AM Come join Wake Audubon for a fall 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. Note that we have moved this walk to the fourth Saturday of most months. Ebird hotspot site: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L16295752 Let's Go Birding! See more details •
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30 Bass Lake Park with Jessica W Bass Lake Park with Jessica W November 30, 2025 8:15 am - 10:30 am 900 Bass Lake Rd, Holly Springs, NC 27540, USA Join Jessica W and Wake Audubon for a Bird Outing at Bass Lake on Sunday, NOVEMBER 30, 2025, 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). See more details •