Curious about birding but not sure where to begin?
Birding – or the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby – has become one of the most popular outdoor activities.
If you’re taking an interest in birds and looking for help getting started, come develop your skills together with other beginning birders at our Beginning Birding Program.
Inclusive and affirming
Co-founded and presented by Wake Audubon and Field Inclusive, Inc. in partnership with City of Raleigh Parks our collective mission is to provide safe, equitable and accessible outdoor experiences for everyone.
Our affirming and inclusive workshops teach these:
- Basics of bird identification using an easy, graduated step approach
- How to choose, use and adjust binoculars,
- Recommended guides and apps
- Types of safety and ways to bird safely
- The importance of inclusion and allyship when birding and recreating in the outdoors.
We’ll spend time outside putting your learning to quick use too.
No binoculars? No worries. That’s expected. We’ll always have plenty to loan.
Where to register
Offered spring and fall, this free, public program requires registration to ensure we won’t exceed classroom capacity.
Scheduled workshops will be posted to our Wake Audubon calendar and Meetup and promoted on Wake Audubon, Field Inclusive and City of Raleigh Parks on social media. If you’re new to Meetup, you’ll need to join Meetup, and the Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup group.
Interested? Let us know.
Want early knowledge of workshops to be posted? Let us know you’d like to be notified when workshops are scheduled by competing this contact form.
Serving all in our community
Some programs may cater to affinity groups, to more explicitly explore physical and social safety concerns as relevant to their life experiences as historically excluded and underrepresented members of our community. Partners include the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
Private programming is available to your group or organization.
Reach Wake Audubon Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging co-chair Rick LaRose at [email protected] with any inquiries or questions.
Come, join in the wonderful world of birding!
Participant testimonials
I learned so much, from bino use, bird facts, inclusive practices, and bird migration! Amazing! I loved it! The instructors were fabulous. So happy to see such representation in facilitators. I’m happy this was free. Thank you!
I’m so glad I joined you all today. Was a great experience.
Instructors were very knowledgeable and passionate! I gained a lot of birding knowledge as well as general outdoor knowledge. I really liked the social safety portion of the workshop. It is extremely important to have these hard conversations so everyone can enjoy the outdoors in a safer way.
This was just an amazing program to attend, and it was free! So accessible, awesome.
I am so happy to have participated in this event. I felt included and accepted at this event. Thank you all so much for everything.
I had a lovely time and learned the skills I need to try regular birding on my walks.
Thank you for having this event. I previously attended a similar event with Outdoor Afro. I enjoyed attending again.
The instructors seemed very passionate and knowledgeable about the topics covered and created a very safe-feeling, inclusive environment.
I loved that the facilitators were so candid in sharing their stories about social safety, including how allies can play a role. Facilitators were very invested in everyone’s learning and made sure everyone was following along and understood how to participate. Snacks were tasty and nutritious!
This was such a helpful workshop! I appreciated how welcoming and inclusive the facilitators were. I appreciate that the basics were covered; no prior knowledge was assumed.
I loved the instructors and how engaging they were! They made birding very accessible.
Very informative! Built my confidence.
Exceptional workshop.
Very happy with the program! Found this intro very helpful as someone who has been on some bird walks but without any ‘formal’ training ☺
The instructors were all very kind and patient. I appreciate the inclusive and nonjudgemental space they fostered.
Let’s Go Birding Together LGBTQ+ and allies bird outings
Founded by Community Education director Jason St. Sauver at Sprint Creek Prairie Audubon Center in Denton, Nebraska, our Let’s Go Birding Together outings are for everyone who loves birds and the outdoors.
Co-led locally by Wake Audubon and Field Inclusive, Inc. in partnership with the LGBT Center of Raleigh, we welcome the LGBTQ+ community and allies, families, and anyone who wants to enjoy an outdoor experience that is inclusive.
Why do we do this? Because the outdoors has not always been a welcoming, safe, place for marginalized members of our community and Wake Audubon, Field Inclusive, and the LGBT Center of Raleigh want to help change that.
Find seasonal Let’s Go Birding Together outings posted to our Wake Audubon calendar and Meetup, the LGBT Center of Raleigh calendar and Wake Audubon, Field Inclusive and the LGBT Center of Raleigh social media.