Carolina Bird Club

Carolina Bird Club

Affiliate sites:

About the Club

Mission Statement

The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is

To promote the observation, enjoyment, and study of birds.
To provide opportunities for birders to become acquainted, and to share information and experience.
To maintain well-documented records of birds in the Carolinas.
To support the protection and conservation of birds and their habitats and foster an appreciation and respect of natural resources.
To promote educational opportunities in bird and nature study.
To support research on birds of the Carolinas and their habitats.

Join us — Join, Renew, Donate

The Carolina Bird Club, Inc., is a non-profit educational and scientific association open to anyone interested in the study and conservation of wildlife, particularly birds.

The Club meets each winter, spring, and fall at different locations in the Carolinas. Meeting sites are selected to give participants an opportunity to see many different kinds of birds. Guided field trips and informative programs are combined for an exciting weekend of meeting with people who share an enthusiasm and concern for birds.

The Club offers research grants in avian biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and scholarships for young birders.

The Club publishes two print publications (now also available online). The Chat is a quarterly ornithological journal that contains scientific articles, reports of bird records committees and bird counts, and general field notes on bird sightings. CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly and includes birding articles and information about meetings, field trips, and Club news.

The Club provides this website to all for free.

By becoming a member, you support the activities of the Club, receive reduced registration fee for meetings, can participate in bonus field trips, and receive our publications.

Join, Renew, or Donate now!

Other Resources (NOT sponsored by Carolina Bird Club)

Duke Gardens

Description

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens is located on the campus of Duke University in Durham, NC, and provides viewing opportunities for more than just flowers. Many birds inhabit the gardens, and many of those birds have become habituated to humans. A good place to start a tour of the park is at the duck pond, where many ducks (most of them pinioned exotics) can be seen at close range as visitors feed them bread (a practice which is officially frowned upon). Small passerines (especially House Sparrows) can be seen at exceptionally close range here as well. The bread thrown to the ducks by visitors is also eaten by the catfish which inhabit the pond, and a Great Blue Heron sometimes exploits this fact by catching the fish which rise to the surface to eat the bread. Extremely close views of this Great Blue Heron can be obtained here, sometimes to within 5 feet.

Warblers, Towhees, and even the odd shorebird can sometimes be seen at the gardens.

Restrooms are provided. A cafe sells coffee and other food and beverages.

Getting There

In Durham County (NC), take NC 15/501 to NC 751. Traveling southeast on 751, turn left onto Duke University Road, then left onto Anderson Street. The entrance to the gardens is on the left.

Caveats

Parking fees are assessed on some days; use the electronic parking meter.
The gardens can become crowded on the weekends, but not unbearably so.

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