Calendar

	June 2025
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3	4	5	6	7 Horseshoe Farm - City birdwalk Horseshoe Farm - City birdwalk June 7, 2025 8:00 am - 9:30 am Early Bird at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve (registration required off Meetup) Saturday, June 7, 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=360359079 Workshop code is 'HFNPEARLYBIRD" Grab your binoculars and meet us at beautiful Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve for a bird-watching hike led by Wake Audubon guest naturalist, Lynn Erla Beegle. Spend your morning watching and learning about birds that prefer meadows and forest 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. Meet in the parking lot at Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve 2900 Horseshoe Farm Rd, Wake Forest, NC, 27587 . Note: Allow time for road construction at 401 and Ligon Mill Road. See more details •
8	9	10 Wake Audubon: Painted Buntings in NC Wake Audubon: Painted Buntings in NC June 10, 2025 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Nature Research Center, 121 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA Wake Audubon Monthly Meeting: The Nonpareil: the state of Painted Buntings in NC and beyond (Meeting is usually In Person and Zoom, but check back for updates!) Time: Second Tuesday of the month, JUNE 10, 2025, 7:30 - 9:00 pm Nature Research Center, 121 W. Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601 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 - usehttps://www.zoom.us/join , choose "Join meeting" (no login needed) Meeting code: 831 3786 5298 Password: 4Birds Title: The Nonpareil: the state of Painted Buntings in NC and beyond Description: The Painted Bunting, sometimes called the nonpareil, is one of those iconic species that is known, and beloved, by many. At the same time, there are many things about the species that we do not know. There are two main populations, and that in the southeastern U.S. has a much smaller range and population size than the one out west. We consider the SE population to be “threatened” – by trapping, climate change, and coastal development. For this program, John Gerwin and Evan Buckland will cover the state of the Painted Bunting in NC, and the work that they are doing to learn more about how these birds “make a living”. John will introduce the species and its natural history. Evan will then take over, from Wilmington (over Zoom) and showcase our current efforts to trap, tag, and track individual buntings. 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 We hope you will help us by joining Wake Audubon and National Audubon! visit wakeaudubon.org *Last updated 2025-05-27 by Beegle WATCH for updates. Location and date sometime change! See more details •	11	12	13 Williamson Preserve: Reservation-only birdwalk Williamson Preserve: Reservation-only birdwalk June 13, 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, JUNE 13, 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 experienced 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 Purple Martin Banding at Yates Mill CP Purple Martin Banding at Yates Mill CP June 13, 2025 8:30 am - 11:30 am Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA Purple Martin tagging at Yates Mill CP (TENTATIVE DATE) Watch as Purple Martin nestlings are banded! Friday, June 13, 2025, 8:30 to 11:30 am Our "Purple Musketeer" team is planning to run the Purple Martin tagging (banding) sessions 3 times this month. We help to manage nesting colonies at Prairie Ridge Ecostation (1671 Gold Star Dr) , University Club of NCSU (4200 Hillsborough St) , and at Historic Yates Mill County Park (4620 Lake Wheeler Rd). For each session, we lower the nest gourds, remove nestlings, attach a small, numbered aluminum tag, and return the nestlings to the same labeled gourd. Attendees are able to touch a nestling, take photos, and learn a lot about the life cycle of this charismatic bird. No pets allowed. For the Yates Mill County Park: Meet in the big lawn to the right of the parking lot. There are two restrooms in the main building. For additional assistance or questions, you may contact John Gerwin at: [email protected] Please note that this is a weather-dependent event. See more details • •	14 NC Art Park Birding NC Art Park Birding June 14, 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 Purple Martin Banding at NC State University Club Purple Martin Banding at NC State University Club June 14, 2025 8:30 am - 11:30 am North Carolina State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA Purple Martin tagging at NC State University Club Watch as Purple Martin nestlings are banded! Saturday, June 14, 2025, 8:30 to 11:30 am Our "Purple Musketeer" team is planning to run the Purple Martin tagging (banding) sessions 3 times this month. We help to manage nesting colonies at Prairie Ridge Ecostation (1671 Gold Star Dr) on June 20 , University Club of NCSU (4200 Hillsborough St) on June 14 , and Historic Yates Mill County Park (4620 Lake Wheeler Rd) on June 13. For each session, we lower the nest gourds, remove nestlings, attach a small, numbered aluminum tag, and return the nestlings to the same labeled gourd. Attendees are able to touch a nestling, take photos, and learn a lot about the life cycle of this charismatic bird. No pets allowed. For the NCSU University Club: There is a signed entrance. After you enter, drive up 100 yards or so, and we meet alongside the first, small parking lot that you come to, which is on your left. If there are no more parking spaces, continue on the driveway until you come to a much larger parking lot. Park here and walk back to where we are. The Purple Martin nest gourd arrays are just to the north of the small parking lot and at the far west edge of the golf course. There are no public facilities at this site. For additional assistance or questions, you may contact John Gerwin at: [email protected] Please note that this is a weather-dependent event. See more details • •
15	16	17	18	19	20 Purple Martin Banding at Prairie Ridge Purple Martin Banding at Prairie Ridge June 20, 2025 8:30 am - 11:30 am Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA Purple Martin tagging at Prairie Ridge Ecostation Watch as Purple Martin nestlings are banded! Friday, June 20, 2025, 8:30 to 11:30 am Our "Purple Musketeer" team is planning to run the Purple Martin tagging (banding) sessions 3 times this month. We help to manage nesting colonies at Prairie Ridge Ecostation (1671 Gold Star Dr) , University Club of NCSU (4200 Hillsborough St) , and Historic Yates Mill County Park (4620 Lake Wheeler Rd). For each session, we lower the nest gourds, remove nestlings, attach a small, numbered aluminum tag, and return the nestlings to the same labeled gourd. Attendees are able to touch a nestling, take photos, and learn a lot about the life cycle of this charismatic bird. No pets allowed. For the Prairie Ridge session: Meet outside the outdoor classroom. To reach this is a simple walk. Park in the lot and make your way to the information kiosk (which is on your left soon after you enter the property). There is a wide dirt road that goes south from the kiosk. Follow this and you will walk right to the classroom. We will be on the right (west) side. You will see the nest gourd arrays there as well. There are two bathrooms associated with the classroom, and a water fountain. For additional assistance or questions, you may contact John Gerwin at: [email protected] Please note that this is a weather-dependent event. See more details •	21
22 Bass Lake Park with Beegle Bass Lake Park with Beegle June 22, 2025 8:15 am - 10:15 am 900 Bass Lake Rd, Holly Springs, NC 27540, USA Join Wake Audubon for a Bird Outing at Bass Lake on Sunday, JUNE 22, 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 on the trail near the restrooms. This 2+ mile walk on unpaved trails begins at 8:15 and ends by 10:30. **This outing is on soft trails. We might cover the east side of the lake and walk back. Leader is Substitute Erla Beegle, [email protected], 919-673-6136 See more details •	23	24	25	26	27 Early Bird(er) at PR Early Bird(er) at PR June 27, 2025 5:45 am - 9:00 am Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA https://naturalsciences.org/calendar/event/early-birds-2024-10-11/2025-06-27/ Early Bird(er) at PR No leader, bird on your own Prairie Ridge Ecostation normally opens at 9 am (closed Mondays). But mornings can be an especially magical time in nature, so we are pleased to welcome early risers to 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. See more details Grassland Planting at Dix Park Grassland Planting at Dix Park June 27, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Stone Houses at Dorothea Dix Park, 840 Umstead Dr., Raleigh, NC 27603, USA Grassland Planting at Dix Park June 27 Wake Audubon members are encouraged to represent our chapter at this grassland planting at Dorothea Dix park with local landscape architect and Artist in Residence, Preston Montague. There are multiple dates to get involved—the primary dates are June 21, June 27, and June 28 from 9 AM - Noon. Details and makeup dates are at the link: https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0105&console_type=event_list&ht=1&event_id=2895&res_code=4Tb9bG This installation will help offset grassland habitat loss in other parts of the park and the city. Dates are filling up fast! Details will be supplied to you at the link. The address is the Dorothea Dix Park, the Stone Houses at 840 Umstead Drive, Raleigh NC. Meetup is unable to change the name of an established location. See more details • •	28 Painted Bunting Field Trip Painted Bunting Field Trip June 28, 2025 6:00 am - 6:00 pm Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Rd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428, USA Painted Bunting Field Trip: Saturday, June 28, 2025 6 am to start time from Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh ; estimated return will be 6:00 p.m. John Gerwin will lead a trip to New Hanover County. We will focus on finding some Painted Buntings at known bunting locations (e.g. Carolina Beach State Park, Airlie Gardens, etc.). We have the option to attend a trapping session with Chelsea who is John/Evan’s partner, on the bunting project. Chelsea will set up a feeder/trap at Carolina Beach State Park that morning. This will be our first stop. We will then explore other locations within the county, e.g. Wrightsville Beach hopefully (parking can be tricky; but this year there are many Least terns and some Wilson’s plovers nesting); Airlie Gardens, or perhaps go down to Ft. Fisher. Time: meet John Gerwin at Prairie Ridge Ecostation parking lot at 6:00 a.m. for carpooling. It is about 2 hours and 45 minutes to reach Carolina Beach State Park. Chelsea will begin at 0830 and continue for 4 hours. So, we can be there in time to see any Painted Buntings she might capture. We can explore more of Carolina Beach State Park and then explore other birdwatching locations in the county. We will depart to return to Raleigh when folks are ready to come home. But probably by 4:00pm or so. John can stay longer so we can “wing it” and decide then. John can take 4-5 people in his vehicle for those who would like to ride with him. Please let him know. It would be great of course for others to carpool. Please bring your meals and beverages and snacks along. Of course we will stop as needed but we’d rather be out looking at birds and butterflies versus shopping for snacks and such. If you plan to drive separate from the group, you should meet us at the marina at Carolina Beach State Park. Entrance is at 1010 State Park Rd, Carolina Beach) This will be our first stop. Participants are responsible for all entry and parking fees. Please sign up and email John Gerwin: [email protected] ; he will provide contact information when you sign up, in case you cannot find the group. See more details LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail via Green Hills County Park LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail via Green Hills County Park June 28, 2025 8:15 am - 10:30 am Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park, 5229 Awls Haven Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614, USA LGBTQ+ and allies: Let’s Go Birding Together at Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail via Green Hills County Park Saturday, June 28, 8:15 - 10:30 a.m. (arrive at 8:05 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, in partnership with The LGBT Center of Raleigh and Field Inclusive Inc. Let’s welcome summer 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, The LGBT Center of Raleigh, and Field Inclusive 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. Starting from sunny Green Hills County Park we'll traverse a paved trail to get to Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail. Abbotts Creek Greenway is a lovely boardwalk and paved trail through a mostly shady woodland, then a marsh with (hopefully) red-headed woodpeckers and lots of easy to see birds. Total length is a tad over 2 miles depending on our pace. Green Hills has plenty of parking, and restrooms at the playground parking where we'll meet, and meadow birds like hawks and Indigo Bunting. After the outing, those with stamina can take the 1/4-mile steep Green Hills County Park trail up the hilltop, where the 360-degree view includes the downtown Raleigh and North Hills skylines! Driving directions: Meet at Green Hills County Park playground, 9300 Deponie Dr. Raleigh, NC 27614. Allow 5 extra minutes to circle the long park drive to reach the parking lot adjacent to the restrooms, playground, and covered seating. Look for Erla and Rick in this lot, with back hatches to our cars open. Borrow binoculars from us or bring your own. If borrowing binoculars, please arrive to the parking lot at 8:05 to be provided a pair and receive personalized help to focus them for your eyesight. The gate into Green Hills opens at 8 a.m. There are two gendered restrooms and drinking water. 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 Green Hills County Park and Abbotts Creek Greenway Trail sightings on ebird.org ahead of us adding a checklist of our own. Green hills to Abbotts: https://ebird.org/checklist/S37111847 Abbotts: https://ebird.org/checklist/S37111996 Our leader is Lynn Erla Beegle (she/her), 919-673-6136, with co-leaders along to help with optics and bird sightings. Reach Erla 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 June 28! 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. 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. See more details Hilltop-Needmore Park (North) Bird Outing Hilltop-Needmore Park (North) Bird Outing June 28, 2025 8:30 am - 10:30 am Hilltop Needmore Town Park & Preserve, 4621 Shady Greens Dr, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526, USA Free Bird Outing 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, JUNE 28, 2025, 8:30 to 10:30 AM Come join Wake Audubon for an early spring 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 for walking on a 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 Grassland Planting at Dix Park Grassland Planting at Dix Park June 28, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Stone Houses at Dorothea Dix Park, 840 Umstead Dr., Raleigh, NC 27603, USA Grassland Planting at Dix Park June 28 Wake Audubon members are encouraged to represent our chapter at this grassland planting at Dorothea Dix park with local landscape architect and Artist in Residence, Preston Montague. There are multiple dates to get involved—the primary dates are June 21, June 27, and June 28 from 9 AM - Noon. Details and makeup dates are at the link: https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0105&console_type=event_list&ht=1&event_id=2895&res_code=4Tb9bG This installation will help offset grassland habitat loss in other parts of the park and the city. Dates are filling up fast! Details will be supplied to you at the link. The address is the Dorothea Dix Park, the Stone Houses at 840 Umstead Drive, Raleigh NC. Meetup is unable to change the name of an established location. See more details • • • •
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Wake Audubon event categories:

Monthly Programs

Wake Audubon meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., downtown Raleigh. Free parking is available one block past the Museum on Jones St. All meetings are free and open to the public. You’ll see these events colored blue in the calendar.

Field Trips

Please join us as we explore the natural areas of North Carolina, both local to Raleigh and farther afield. Please note that some trips may have associated fees. These events are shown in green in the calendar.

Monthly Bird Walks

Each month, a different Wake Audubon member will lead a walk to the location of his or her choice. Usually these trips will begin in the morning around 8:30 a.m. and participants will travel to a birding hot spot somewhere in the Wake County area. Check your newsletter or this site often to see where we will be going next. These events are colored red in the calendar.

General

These are various Wake Audubon Events that don’t fall into the field trip, monthly bird walk, or monthly lecture series. These events are colored purple in the calendar.

Young Naturalist Club

This is a group for junior naturalists ages 12-18. Join us as we explore North Carolina’s natural areas! These events are colored yellow in the calendar.

Learn More ›

You can also keep track of Wake Audubon’s calendar of activities through the Wake Audubon Meetup site. Learn more.

June 2025