Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Whether you’re a serious or beginner birder, you’ll get caught up in the excitement of birding on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are popular home bases for those who like to get out, explore, and see a wide variety of bird species year-round.
Fort Morgan
Fort Morgan is a Third System masonry fort built between 1819 and 1833. The fort was named after Revolutionary War...
Bellingrath Gardens and Home
Come experience Bellingrath Gardens and Home, the naturally breathtaking historic manor home and pleasure gardens located in southern Mobile County...
Sailaway Charters
At Sailaway Charters Your family can enjoy my family friendly 2 hour nature cruise which includes oystering, crabbing, shrimping, birding...
Orange Beach Boat Rentals
We are a family-oriented company with one focus: to have happy customers who keep coming back. Our crew strives to...
Graham Creek Nature Preserve
Graham Creek Nature Preserve is home to hundreds of plant and wildlife species. This 500-acre nature park offering passive recreation...
Audubon Bird Sanctuary
This lush sanctuary on Dauphin Island consists of approximately 137 acres of maritime forest, marshes, dunes, a lake, swamp and...
Alabama's Coastal Connection Scenic Byway
Beautiful beaches, authentic downtowns, wildlife preserves, historic sites and fresh-off-the-boat seafood are all yours to enjoy along Alabama’s Coastal Connection...
Pure Aloha Adventures
At Pure Aloha Adventures, a woman-owned and operated business, we pride ourselves on providing an unforgettable experience exploring the local...
Coastal Blue Persuasion Fishing, LLC
Inshore, nearshore & snapper fishing with Capt Frank aboard our Contender Sport for 1-6 anglers. Dauphin Island, Mobile, Fort Morgan...
Meaher State Park
This 1,327-acre park is situated in the wetlands of the Mobile Delta and is a day-use, picnicking and scenic park...
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge encompasses some of Alabama’s last remaining undisturbed coastal habitats. It was established in 1980 to...
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
This public research and education facility encompasses over 9,000 acres of protected estuarine habitats around the Weeks Bay area. The...
Did You Know?
You can get the Fred Paloma at Salt & Sips inside SpringHill Suites Orange Beach, and the proceeds go toward Alabama Audubon!
Soar High
Alabama's Gulf Coast biodiversity is nothing short of amazing. You’ll see majestic bald eagles soaring above the water and resident brown pelicans gliding along the horizon. Raptors, including osprey and a variety of hawks, can be seen gliding on coastal breezes searching for prey. From laughing gulls to mourning doves, the variety of common species is amazing, too. Then, in spring and fall, the area serves as a crucial layover point for migratory neo-tropical birds. These migrating birds following the Mississippi Flyway stop here, adding even more birds of note to any serious birder’s life list.
Here on the island, the wealth of protected lands, including the Gulf State Park and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, offers habitat for bird nests and exceptional viewing areas for folks seeking to spot them.
Nearby, the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (one of only 29 in the country), with its boardwalks and Pitcher Plant bog, offers even more opportunity. Perhaps the best-known birding area is nearby Dauphin Island. Just a short ferry ride away, the island has been named one of the “birdiest” sites in the country, with enthusiasts flocking there during migratory seasons. Home to the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary, this is an important part of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail.
Alabama Coastal Birding Trail
Alabama Coastal Birding Trail comprises six loops that wind through Baldwin and Mobile Counties. The more than 50 sites of the birding trail highlight a variety of public lands. The trail is a composite of the diversity of the region’s prime bird habitat. From dunes and scrub oaks to wetlands to wooded uplands, the many species to be spotted are as varied as the landscape. The trail includes Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, South Baldwin County, Eastern Shore - Mobile Bay Causeway, Blakeley Island, Mobile - Tensaw River Delta, and the Dauphin Island - Bayou La Batre Loops. Download a map or visit Alabama Birding Trails for more details.
Birding Events
Bird Banding
Bird Banding
Birmingham Audubon and its partners host a week-long bird banding at Historic Fort Morgan during the spring migration. The banding is a research project where the public is invited to join in. Visitors enjoy unparalleled access to the researchers and their work, with up-close views of some amazing Gulf Coast birds. Check the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Calendar of Events for the next scheduled spring bird banding event. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
Alabama Coastal Birdfest
Alabama Coastal Birdfest
Grab your binoculars and migrate south for the John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest. Hosted by Alabama Audubon, BirdFest brings together nature enthusiasts and birders of all ages for four days of birdwatching, tours, and workshops.
