Ten North Raleigh spots made it into the guide.

The new guide aims to lure birders from across the nation who create "life lists," noting each bird they'd like to see and checking them off each time they do.

"Attracting people to these areas brings tourism dollars to local communities in a way that's environmentally sustainable and helps the local community recognize that there's a value to be placed on protecting natural areas," said Salinda Daley Bacheler, coordinator of the N.C. Birding Trail.

Nearly 48 million Americans said they observed birds around their home or on trips, according to a 2006 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In North Carolina, almost 2 million people watch birds and other wildlife.

Birders in North Carolina had talked about an official birding trail for years. Then in 2003, a committee began meeting.

Several years later, in 2007, the first guide was published -- of the state's coastal area. This spring brought the release of the Piedmont guide, which includes the Triangle. Next year, the final guide, focusing on North Carolina's mountains, is scheduled to be released.

Sites qualify for the trail if they support birds beyond what's commonly found in backyards.

Blue Jay Point County Park on Falls Lake is among North Raleigh's birding trail sites.

The 236-acre park often offers educational programs about birds, including a Songbird Celebration every spring.

Deborah Robertson, the park's manager, said the main draws for birders are the park's woodpeckers and indigo buntings. Birders already often visit Blue Jay Point, but Robertson expects more of them now that the park is in the guide.

"It's definitely going to be a huge draw all over North Carolina," she said. "It's a good tourism business to be in."

WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN NORTH RALEIGH, ACCORDING TO THE N.C. BIRDING TRAIL

BEAVERDAM

Where: N.C. 50; 676-1027. What: Part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area, the reservoir is separated from Falls Lake by a small dam and spillway. See: Northern Bobwhite, American Woodcock, Loggerhead Shrike, Chuck-will's-widow, Orchard Oriole.

BLUE JAY POINT COUNTY PARK

Where: 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd., Raleigh; 870-4330. What: A 236-acre park with five miles of trails, picnic areas, playground and other features. See: Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Hooded Warbler, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, woodpeckers.

DURANT NATURE PARK

Where: 8305 Camp Durant Rd., Raleigh, 870-2871. What: A 237-acre Raleigh park with five miles of trails, two small lakes. See: Great Crested Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting, migrating songbirds.

FALLS LAKE TRAIL

Where: South shore of Falls Lake, 676-1027. What: Twenty-five miles of trails in Wake County along the south shore of Falls Lake. See: Bald Eagle, Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded Warbler, wintering waterfowl.

HOLLY POINT/SHINLEAF

Where: New Light Road off N.C. 98, 676-1027. What: Part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area at its southeast end. The lake section is narrow, resembling the river it once was, says the bird guide. See: Bonaparte's Gull, Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Cliff Swallow.

ROLLINGVIEW

Where: Baptist Road off N.C. 98; 676-1027. What: Part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Rollingview is a peninsula in the middle of Falls Lake -- and probably the best place to view Bald Eagles, according to the guide. See: Bald Eagle, American Black Duck, American Wigeon, Gadwall.

SANDLING BEACH

Where: N.C. 50; 676-1027. What: Part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area. Sandling Beach is a good place to spot birds -- if no one's swimming there. See: Bald Eagle, Wild Turkey, Great Crested Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, wintering waterfowl.

UMSTEAD STATE PARK

Where: 8801 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, 571-4170. What: A 5,579-acre state park with 20 miles of hiking trails, lakes and creeks. See: Scarlet Tanager, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, woodpeckers

WOODPECKER RIDGE

Where: N.C. 50 north of Raleigh; 676-1027. What: Part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area between the widest part of Falls Lake and N.C. 50. Spring migration is the best time to go, with more than 20 warbler species and other birds in the area. See: Bald Eagle, Wild Turkey, Great Horned Owl, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-headed Woodpecker, wintering waterfowl.

(WANT MORE INFO?

Go to www.ncbirdingtrail.org for complete descriptions of the North Raleigh sites and others across North Carolina's coastal and Piedmont regions. Also find out how to get a copy of the new guide.)