Calendar

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
**Mindful birding at Schenck Forest**
**2026\.05\.23 \| a Birding for Wellbeing event**
**Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.**

* Enjoy food and fellowship 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
* Birding – 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
* All skill levels encouraged to come; borrow binoculars from us or bring your own.

Sponsors: **Wake Audubon**, the **National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Wake County**.

[See Wake Audubon's Rick LaRose and NAMI Wake County's Mark Simon talk with ABC11 news anchor Amber Rupinta about Birding for Wellbeing in celebration of May Mental Health Awareness Month!](https://namiwake-my.sharepoint.com/personal/onedriveadmin_nami-wake_org/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fonedriveadmin%5Fnami%2Dwake%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FMarketing%2FVideos%2FABC11%2FWTVD%20OTTO%5F2026%2D05%2D10%5FNAMI%20Birding%20Wellbeing%2Emp4&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJTdHJlYW1XZWJBcHAiLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJTaGFyZURpYWxvZy1MaW5rIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXcifX0&ga=1&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2Ed49fa972%2Dead8%2D4759%2D94bb%2Df413793584f9)

Our **Birding for Wellbeing** outings center on mindful practices, with a slow pace to observe birds, relax in nature, and enjoy social connection in service to our physical and mental health. With **May** being **Mental Health Awareness Month**, it’s a perfect time to do so.

**Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest** is a 245-acre property located just 10 minutes from NC State’s main campus and about eight miles from downtown Raleigh.

* The forest is managed by the College of Natural Resources primarily as a teaching and research site for students to learn about forest management practices and its associated benefits.
* Schenck Forest also serves as a public recreation spot for walkers, joggers, and birders - no bikes.
* It's home to one of North Carolina’s most endangered tree species — the longleaf pine.
* This past weekend birders spotted Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Parula, Indigo Bunting, and Summer Tanager among other species.

**Driving directions and logistics**

* We have **special permission** for NC State's College of Natural Resources to use the Park shelter and drive into the park.
* From Reedy Creek Rd. turn on to State Farm Road. (Upon turning onto State Farm Rd, the campus of Bandwidth, Inc. will be on your left.
* **See Birding for Wellbeing signs on the right flanking the gravel drive into the Forest.**
* Drive through the gate approx. .2 mile. See a shelter on the right. Park in the unpaved lot on the right just past the shelter.
* Join Matt, Mark, Rick and Alexis at the shelter.

**What to expect / bring**

* We’ll start by snacking on pastries (some gluten free) as we all greet and enjoy community with each other. 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Bring your morning beverage of choice.
* During this time, we’ll assist anyone to borrow binoculars. **Please arrive at 8:30** **to be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight**. There’s no requirement to use binoculars, yet, we’ll have plenty to borrow if you choose to do so and provide a safe space to learn.
* **Bring your own filled water bottle** if you intend to drink and/or carry water with you on the outing.
* There are 2 **portable restrooms** on site.
* To note here, paths at Schenck are **unpaved**.
* The main drive/path is wide, and gravel. Slight decline into the park. Expect a dip here or there.
* Some interior paths are dirt, some wide, some narrower. Our suggestion would be to **wear long pants** just in case we take any. If we get rain the day or two before, **choose your footwear accordingly** too.
* Dappled shade, and areas of sun, so be prepared for both.

**Your hosts**

* Our guide will be **Matt Florez**, NC Environmental Educator, Outdoor Nature Instructor at Town of Holly Springs and Senior Program Assistant at Town of Cary; Matt's also a Wake Audubon board director.
* NAMI Wake County Executive Director **[Mark Simon](https://nami-wake.org/about-nami-wake-county/our-staff/)**. An avid birder, Mark is grateful for how birding has served his own mental health and passionate about sharing this source of well-being with others.
* Wake Audubon board director and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging event lead **Rick LaRose** (he/him) serves to bring accessible and welcoming ways for everyone to enjoy birds and take part in nature, wherever they are in their life journeys.
* Licensed therapist and yoga teacher **Alexis Schulman**, LCMHC, began birding as a way to deepen her own mindfulness in nature and support her personal wellbeing. Through her work in mental health and mindfulness-based practices, Alexis has become interested in how slowing down our attention outdoors can support both observation and a calm mind. She developed the mindful birding framework for this series in collaboration with Wake Audubon and NAMI Wake County and will help guide these practices during the outings.

**Today's practice: See Before Staring**

1. Soften focus.
2. Use your peripheral vision.
3. Notice movement on the edges of your field of view.

* This outing introduces the idea of soft gaze and peripheral vision - relaxing the eyes instead of locking onto one spot.
* By widening our visual field, we may notice movement, contrast, and patterns that are easy to miss when we’re staring intently. Softening our gaze can help reveal flickers in shrubs, birds in flight, and subtle changes in the environment.
* Prompted by Alexis, this outing will include short pauses to experiment with this way of seeing, alongside usual birding and identification.
* As always, participants are welcome to engage in whatever way feels right - listening, looking, identifying, or simply enjoying time in nature.

**What bird species frequent the Park and trail?**
Check out Schenck Forest sightings on eBird ahead of us adding a checklist of our own.
[Schenck Forest, Wake, North Carolina, United States - eBird Hotspot](https://ebird.org/hotspot/L654314?yr=cur)

**Questions ahead?**

* Email event manager Rick LaRose at [[email protected].](http://[email protected]./)
* Text Rick on the day of the event with any questions at 919 609-7570.

We're looking forward to sharing community and birding together with you on Saturday, May 23!

[Wake Audubon](https://wakeaudubon.org/) advocates birds, wildlife, nature, and environmental conservation with a commitment to providing activities where all can safely access and celebrate nature as their authentic selves.
[NAMI Wake County](https://nami-wake.org/) is the local affiliate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We provide advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that people affected by mental illness can build better lives.
**Why partner together?**
As more and more stressors impact our everyday lives, the toll on our mental health can be debilitating.
[As remedy, birding, bird song, and time in nature are proven to ease stress, boost mood, promote community, and strengthen well-being.](https://wakeaudubon.org/its-stress-awareness-month-let-birds-be-your-remedy/) We’re a natural fit.

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
**Birding at Hilltop-Needmore Park (North)**
**Saturday, MAY 23, 2026**
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 Audubon! Join us for a Wake Audubon bird outing at Hilltop-Needmore Park on the **fourth Saturday of most months** (check here for updates).
The walk is limited to 20 participants; the RSVP on Meetup opens May 1 1 at 7 am.

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](https://ebird.org/hotspot/L16295752)

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.

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
Raleigh Parks: **History of Horseshoe Farm**
*(registration required off Meetup, **$5 fee**)*
**TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2026, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 PM**
**\*$5 fee per person when you register\***
**Meetup RSVP is disabled for this event.**
**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=477202051

Description: Have you ever wondered about people who lived in this area hundreds of years ago? Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve has a rich and complicated history. Come to explore that history with us. Children must be accompanied by adults. Preregistration is required for planning purposes.
Cost: $5
Location: Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve, 2900 Horseshoe Farm Road
**You will receive an email describing where you will meet. Please register before Friday May 25.**
*Please allow extra travel time due to Rush Hour -- or come early and birdwatch!*
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Tracy Feldman at [email protected]; or at 919-996-2274.

*Note: this is not a Wake Audubon event, but the Meetup Organizer is pleased to let you know about it.*

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
**Birding at Bass Lake and Sugg Farm (Bass Lake Park)**

Join Wake Audubon for a Bird Outing at **Bass Lake and Sugg Farm** on **SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026, at 8:15.** Please sign up for this walk, as we try to limit this to 25 birders. Leader is Jessica Williams ([email protected], 913-424-5062).
RSVP opens May 1 at 7 am.

This **2+ mile** walk on **unpaved trails** begins at 8:15 and ends approximately 10:30. 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 on the trail near the restrooms. We will walk the east side of Bass Lake, then take the trail to Sugg Farm, then return to the Bass Lake parking lot. The trail can be a tad soggy after heavy rains.

Here is a link to the Bass Lake hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1352674

You don't need an ebird.org account to participate - but ebird is a great way to keep track of what you have seen (and it helps scientists note the location and abundance of bird populations). The Leader will make and share an ebird.org checklist and share it with your ebird account. Keeping your own individual list is discouraged because this duplicates the data, but you can edit your list once it's shared to you.
Let's Go Birding!
Note this event has not appeared on the wakeaudubon.org calendar yet. Hoping it will, but this problem is out of my control. — LynnErla Beegle