Calendar

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
**Purple Martin Nestling Banding #2**
**June 11 (THUR), 0900-1000**
**(Historic) Yates Mill Pond County Park**
**Directions:** The nest colony is to the north of the parking lot and is easy to spot and walk to after parking. You will see it on your right as you enter the parking lot. Simply park and walk over to where we will be set up, about 50' short of the nest gourds.

**PURPLE MARTINS** have been nesting at this site for several years, using artificial nest gourds designed to keep predators and unwanted birds out. This season there are fewer nestlings. They will be old enough to band this week.
People can come out and watch, chat etc. *We will discuss the whys and ways of tagging birds. Anyone can hold one of the nestlings if they wish* \- we check the birds over first for mites \(because mites are common on baby martins in some years\)\.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs, please.

There are fewer **Purple Martin** nestlings at this colony than at Wednesday's site, so we are allowing about an hour to do what we need to do: removing nestlings from the numbered gourds, measuring, banding and replacing each nestling in their gourd.
We may remain longer if we need more time.

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
[REGISTER OFF MEETUP](https://triangleland.org/explore/events)

**FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026: 8:00 TO 10:30 AM**
**Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve, 4429 Old Country Mial Rd, Raleigh, NC (new address due to road changes)**
This is a free event, **but [REGISTRATION ON TLC's WEBSITE IS REQUIRED](https://triangleland.org/explore/events)**[ ](https://triangleland.org/explore/events). **There is limit of 15 birders for the event**, and you will receive an email from Triangle Land Conservancy a day or two before the event.
Note: **The dirt road portion of Mials Plantation Road is permanently closed, so stay on Smithfield Road and turn right on Mials Plantation, right at first road, near the end of the road turn in at the white building, just at the closed road signs. Watch out for a deep hole or two when you pull in and park.**

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 mostly dirt trails. Join this wonderful morning stroll and see what birds you can find. Please wear good walking shoes and layers, bring a water bottle, and binoculars if you have them. We suggest that you leave your furry friends at home for this hike as dogs may scare away wildlife viewing opportunities.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or just starting out, this is a great chance to connect with nature and learn about the diverse bird species that call the grasslands, woodlands, and ponds home. Check out what we may find here: [https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4669077](https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4669077)

TLC maintains a waitlist, so be sure to join TLC's waitlist if the event is full. (wake Audubon does not have access to the waitlist).

***Joining by Meetup for this event will NOT register you for this event, so, I shut off the RSVP option.***

VERY IMPORTANT: ***After a heavy rain, the preserve may be closed to prevent erosion, so TLC may have to cancel the outing. Otherwise, you will receive an email from TLC of where to park and the status of the walk (Wake Audubon Meetup will not know the walk's status). Note that even if the preserve is closed to others, TLC tries to hold this walk, using the volunteer parking area just after the main gate and the old church.***

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
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| **Uwharrie Biodiversity Field Day — Saturday, June 13** |

This is an all-day outing in the **Uwharries with John Gerwin**, Kira Nuviae, and Grace Sigmon, covering two sites: a private meadow property in southern Randolph County where the team has conducted bird and arthropod research for years, and the native plant gardens at the NC Zoo. The day runs from an optional early-morning bird banding session through an afternoon pollinator walk with Grace at the Zoo.
**Note: the time you meet is a rough estimate. Need to provide your own transportation to Randolph county and to the NC Zoo.**
Locations: Private property in southern Randolph Country and native plant gardens at the NC Zoo.

RSVP required. Send your email to John at: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
**Birding at the NC Museum of Art, Ann & Jim Goodnight Museum Park**

**Second Saturday of the month: JUNE 13, 2026, 8:00 to 10:00 AM**
**RSVP opens June 1 at 7 am.**
NC Museum of Art: Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.
Meet near the **Welcome Center** **(near the tall brick smokestack )** at the western end of the parking lot.
Leader is **Lynn Erla Beegle, [email protected]**
Habitat includes field, forest, and pond, native plants, and outdoor art.

Note: Anyone who has **low mobility** is welcome to join us, even if the 25-birder limit has been reached. The birding will be MOSTLY on paved trails **but, due to construction, from March to June we have to walk on the lawn or a gravel trail to get back to the parking lot**. Length is about 1.5 miles, in two hours. Limit is technically 25 birders, but it is a public park.
(**For low-mobility birders:** Turn LEFT as you enter the NCMA via Reedy Creek road, then park all the way down the hill in the employee parking. ***Use your handicap placard to park.*** Then it is a short slope to the pond. **We will met you at the pond between 8:30 and 9:00. Please text/call me at 919-673-6136 if you are meeting us at the pond instead of at the Park Visitor Center.) From March to June, we will NOT be able to stay completely on paved trails, due to construction, so please meet us at the pond.**

More information on the North Carolina Museum of Art website: [https://park.ncartmuseum.org/](https://park.ncartmuseum.org/)

Map of the 164-acre Museum Park:
[https://park.ncartmuseum.org/assets/pdf/Park-Map-Web.pdf](https://park.ncartmuseum.org/assets/pdf/Park-Map-Web.pdf)

**Turn RIGHT when you enter via Reedy Creek Road entrance for the NC Museum of Art.** Meet in upper parking lot close to the big smokestack and Welcome Center (northern end of the main lot). **Look for people with binoculars.** Restrooms at Welcome Center are open and handicap accessible.

Admission to the Art Museum is free; opens at 10. *Backpacks, binoculars, and long-lens cameras are not allowed in the museum, but they have free lockers to stow these items.*

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Ebird Hotspot: [https://ebird.org/hotspot/L21844918](https://ebird.org/hotspot/L21844918)
See you there!

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
BIRD OUTING: **Birding With Frank at Turnipseed Nature Preserve**
Bird Outing on **SATURDAY JUNE 13, 2026, 8:30 am TO 10:00 am**
Location: **Turnipseed Nature Preserve** has TWO entrances. We meet at **1525 Pleasants Road, Wendell.**
Leader is Frank Doherty ( [email protected] )
This birdwalk repeats on the second Saturday of most months. Check Meetup and wakeaudubon.org calendars for updates; We temporarily moved from Wendell Park because it is a very busy park for sports.
Turnipseed is a newer acquisition in the Raleigh preserve system, with no sports other than nature study.

Park in the lot on Pleasants Road and look for people with binoculars. If you find yourself at the wrong entrance, then you can try walking the single gravel trail and maybe catch up.

Turnipseed ebird hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L5052420

Thanks, Frank, for volunteering to be the trip leader!

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.

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, JUNE 14, 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 June 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!

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
Join us at the White Deer Park Nature Center for a Native Plant Swap! Help spread the joy of native plants by swapping species you have to spare and receiving new plants in return. Bring rooted plants, seedlings, or cuttings to trade. **All plants must be native to the southeastern US or North Carolina.** Refreshments will be provided.

Please attach a label on each plant prior to arrival at the event. Limit of 20 plants per participant. Preregistration is required, and space is limited to 26 participants. **Registration is required Off-Meetup.**
**Register here:** [https://garner.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=3798](https://garner.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=3798)

Questions about the swap? Email Colleen Bockhahn at [email protected]

Wake Audubon Birding and Environmental Meetup
**Birding at Hilltop-Needmore Park (North)**
**Saturday, JUNE 27, 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 June 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
**Drop by and say hi to Wake Audubon at Out! Raleigh Pride on June 27, downtown Raleigh, 12 noon – 7 p.m. Or, come volunteer with us there!**

If new to you, [Out! Raleigh Pride](https://outraleighpride.org/) (ORP) is the area's annual, family-friendly street festival that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Among the festival's performers, vendors, and Kids Zone, we'll help bring a day of fun and family - and our excitement for birds and inclusivity in the outdoors - to downtown [Raleigh's Fayetteville Street district](https://www.visitraleigh.com/plan-a-trip/cities-and-towns/raleigh/downtown-raleigh/fayetteville-street/).

Find us (exact street location to be posted 1 week before the event).

* Chat with our team of volunteers about your favorite birds and what’s in your backyard.
* Try your hand at identifying common birds of Wake County.
* Find guidance on native plants for birds.
* Buy at bluebird house. Beautifully constructed, and only $20 each, our bluebird nest houses are ready for you to install just in time for our bluebirds third brood this season.
* Learn about Wake Audubon’s free, public workshops, outings, and programs, our community partners and ways to get involved.

**Volunteers:** Birds unite us. Chat with festival goers about favorite birds and Wake Audubon’s bird-friendly initiatives and free public programs. Bring your affection for birds and nature; we’ll prepare you with everything else.

**If interested, please [complete this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeGz8r2GR5lCrZQzFUNbV4rlJ0VOmGbcSzLPmjJujmQeAkmA/viewform?usp=dialog)** **to indicate your shift preferences**, or reach Wake Audubon Board Director and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging co-chair Rick LaRose at [email protected] with any questions:

* Shift 1 (includes set-up): 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
* Shift 2: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
* Shift 3: 3:30 – 5:30 pm
* Shift 4 (includes break-down) 5:30 – 7:15 pm

Wake Audubon was the first environmental conservation nonprofit to be part of ORP. We’re proud to support the [LGBT Center of Raleigh](https://www.lgbtcenterofraleigh.com/) and [executive director Kori Hennessey](https://www.lgbtcenterofraleigh.com/meet-the-center-staff), a community partner in our affirming and inclusive [Beginning Birders workshops and Let’s Go Birding Together LGBTQ+ and allies bird outings](https://wakeaudubon.org/education/beginning-birding-program/).

See you there!