New Hope Bird Alliance (formerly New Hope Audubon Society) is a local chapter of National Audubon for Durham, Orange, and northern Chatham counties and we maintain close ties with Audubon NC. To find out more about why we changed our name from New Hope Audubon and the process we used, check out this link: New Hope Bird Alliance.
Items of special interest
Dear New Hope Bird Alliance community: Thank you for everything you do for birds, nature, and the habitat that sustains us all.
We are excited to announce the launch of New Hope for Birds: Fund the Future! — a campaign to raise $200,000 over the next two years so we can hire our first full-time Executive Director. This important step will allow us to expand partnerships, strengthen our programs, and elevate our impact for bird and habitat protection across our region.
December 2nd is #GivingTuesday — a global movement that invites us to pause from the buying frenzy of Black Friday and embrace acts of “radical generosity.” We hope you will consider making a gift, large or small, to support our transformative campaign and the future of birds in our community.
May your holiday season be filled with peace, hope, and gratitude.
Carol Hamilton, President, NHBA.
ACCOUNT LOGIN – pay local dues and check account status.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS web page to keep informed about upcoming events including bird outings.
FIELD NOTES BLOG to be sure to keep up with the latest posts.
BIRD COUNT CHARTS web page to explore our historical data going back to 1977 for both our Spring and Christmas Bird Counts.
VOLUNTEER web page for ways you can help and fill out our updated Volunteer Form to tell us about your interests.
MEETING RECORDINGS web page for recordings of past membership meetings via Zoom.
Announcements
Many thanks to everyone who joined us on November 15th to celebrate our 50th Anniversary! Attendees were encouraged to “Walk! Look, and Bid; Sip, Nibble, Mingle! Repeat!” — and they did just that. Guests were amazed by the quality of the art and items up for bid, as well as the tremendous generosity of our artists and donors. With nearly every ticket sold, the evening was a joyful success and raised meaningful support for our newly launched New Hope for Birds: Fund the Future campaign. And keep your eyes peeled for details about our upcoming Bird-a-thon, swooping in next April/May!
Our next membership meeting will be January 8, 2026 at 7 pm. Our speaker will be Nicolette Cagle, who will speak on using acoustic monitoring for ecological studies, with a focus on findings in the Duke Forest and work started in Oaxaca, Mexico. Location will be the Joslin Classroom at the NC Botanical Gardens (NCBG). If you wish to join via Zoom, use this link.
Martin Luther King Day weekend field trips, January 16-19, 2026. The New Hope Bird Alliance and the Chapel Hill Bird Club are joining together to offer all our members an MLK weekend choice of field trips. NHBA will visit Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina, while CHBC will go to the NC Outer Banks. You are invited to sign up for one or the other, as our expert trip leaders help you explore the best birding hot spots in both venues.
Email David Anderson at d47anders@gmail.com for Huntington Beach, or Bo Howes at bohowes@gmail.com for the Outer Banks. We will sign you up and then send further details. Space is limited, so respond ASAP. We are asking a donation of $75 for either trip. We are offering a couple of scholarships for students or others who need help with funds for the trips. For questions, please contact David Anderson or Bo Howes at the email addresses above.
Both trips are now full – please contact David or Bo if you wish to be on the wait list.
Celebrate 50 Years of NHBA with New, Special-Edition Merch. Since 1975, the New Hope Bird Alliance has been striving to protect birds, wildlife, and their local habitats through conservation, education, advocacy, and outdoor enjoyment. Help us celebrate 50 years of New Hope Bird Alliance in style with our special-edition design by local artist and birder, Jenny Deview, featuring the Eastern Bluebird, Common Yellowthroat and American Redstart. Shop Jenny’s wonderful artwork on shirts, sweatshirts, totes, mugs and more here at our Bonfire Shop. A portion of every purchase directly supports NHBA and the conservation work we do!
Check out the top 5 tips to help migrating birds and those nesting in your yard:
- Lights Out For Birds! During migration*, birds navigate by the night sky. House and building lights confuse them and may lead them off course, potentially to their deaths. Make their journeys safer by turning off bright outdoor lights and unnecessary indoor lights when it gets dark. Downward pointing dim motion lights are ok.
- Clean Feeders & Bird baths: Feeders, suet cages and bird baths should be cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of disease. This should be done year round, but especially during peak migration season. A solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water can be used. This should be done every 2-3 weeks during peak usage. Helpful tip: If you see a bird with eyes that look crusty or closed shut, take down the feeders and bird baths for 10-14 days and clean them thoroughly. Suet cages can be left up.
- Ready Nest Boxes: Some birds are already checking out nesting spots or have nests built. Make sure your nest boxes are clean for the new brood. Check the condition of the box and make sure the opening is not compromised. You can also check the area around the box to make sure bushes aren’t too close to allow invaders to attack the nestlings. Helpful tip: If a nestling falls out of the nest too early, please do not try to intervene. The parents will continue to care for it.
- Plant Natives: Spring plant sales are starting up, and now is an ideal time to remove invasive plants and bushes and plant native plants in your garden. Look for plants that attract pollinators and provide seasonal wildlife appeal. Berry producing shrubs will also provide food for birds and mammals when the days start to get cooler and insects are harder to find.
- Leave your Leaves: Leaves will continue to be an important element for birds during spring as they root around for newly emerging insects. Leaves will also continue to provide cover for wildlife and free mulch for your garden as the days get warmer. Helpful tip: Many native bees, fireflies and butterflies make their homes in the leaves.
*Spring migration: March 15-May 31
Fall migration: Aug. 15 – Oct. 31
