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
Join us for an evening of food, fun, and wildlife art at NHBA’s first silent art auction fundraiser! 
On November 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm, we invite you to come and bid on art from our area’s talented artists and support NHBA’s conservation work. Tickets—which include a catered dinner courtesy of Med Deli—are $20 for members, $30 for non-members, and free for artists who donate their work. Purchase tickets here.
Help Shape Future Development: Durham is drafting a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) — zoning and land use regulations that will govern the development of land in Durham for years to come. The City of Durham’s deadline for citizen input is quickly approaching. We invite you to review our vision for a new UDO and to submit your own comments before the end of November. For information and ways to comment go here.
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
New NHBA grant funding available. NHBA is committed to supporting land acquisition and restoration that helps protect and preserve or restore wildlife habitat in North Carolina, focusing on property in its territory. As such, NHBA is funding a grant for up to $5,000 to be awarded by December 31, 2025. The project should support land conservation or restoration. The current grant application period is open from October 10 through October 31, 2025. For specifics of the grant and to complete a form, please see our funding page.
Our next membership meeting will be November 6, 2025 at 7 pm. Our speaker will be Rick Savage, Executive Director of the Carolina Wetlands Association. 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.
The Huntington Beach trip is full – please contact David 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
