Dauphin Island, located off the coast of Alabama, is well-known among birdwatchers as a prime destination to see a variety of migratory and coastal birds. The island’s location along the Mississippi Flyway, diversity of habitats, and lack of development make it an ideal stopover and breeding ground for birds. There are several excellent spots on the island to observe birds all year round.
What makes Dauphin Island such a great birding location?
There are a few key factors that make Dauphin Island an exceptional place for birding:
- Location along the Mississippi Flyway migration route – The Mississippi Flyway is a major bird migration route stretching from central Canada down across the Great Plains to the Gulf of Mexico. Each spring and fall, millions of birds pass along this route as they migrate between their summer and winter grounds. Dauphin Island is ideally positioned along this flyway, making it a prime spot to observe migrating species.
- Diversity of habitats – The island contains a variety of habitats like beaches, dunes, marshes, maritime forests, and freshwater wetlands. This diversity of ecosystems provides food, shelter, and nesting grounds for many different bird species during migration or breeding seasons.
- Lack of development – Unlike much of the nearby mainland coastline, Dauphin Island has limited development. This leaves more natural areas for birds to stopover or nest without disturbance.
- Adjacent productive waters – The productive waters of the Mississippi Sound that border the island teem with fish and invertebrates, which provide ample food resources for coastal and wading birds.
The combination of these factors makes Dauphin Island a world-class birding location throughout the year.
When is the best time to see birds on Dauphin Island?
While great birding can happen year-round, there are certain times that are best for observation:
- Spring Migration (April-May) – Spring migration brings the highest diversity of species to the island as birds move north to their breeding grounds. Some key birds seen include warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, terns, and shorebirds.
- Summer Nesting (May-July) – In summer, Dauphin Island becomes a nesting place for resident species and seabirds. Look for nesting colonies of brown pelicans, terns, skimmers, oystercatchers, and gulls.
- Fall Migration (September-October) – Fall migration reverses the passage in spring, with birds heading south in the fall to their wintering grounds. Notable migrants include hawks, warblers, shorebirds, and Mississippi kites.
- Winter (November-February) – While bird diversity drops in winter, this is the best time to see waterfowl, sparrows, owls, and wintering shorebirds.
While migratory periods see the most species diversity, every season offers great birding on Dauphin Island.
What are the best birdwatching spots on Dauphin Island?
Here are some of the top birding sites to check out on the island:
The Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuaries
Operated by the Mobile Bay Audubon Society, these sanctuaries protect critical coastal habitats. They offer excellent spring and fall migratory bird viewing.
- East End Beach – Shorebirds, gulls, terns, skimmers
- Eloise Beach West – Songbirds, marsh birds, shorebirds
- Little Dauphin Island – Herons, egrets, spoonbills, pelicans
Shell Mounds Park
Trails go through forests and along the beach, where birders may spot ducks, loons, pelicans, herons, and piping plovers in the winter.
Fort Gaines Historical Site
Passerines migrate through the trees here. The shoreline often has good numbers of ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, and other shorebirds.
Dauphin Island Marina
The marina rocks attract gulls, terns, herons, egrets, and brown pelicans year-round. Rarities are often spotted among the common species.
Audubon Bird Sanctuary
This 134-acre sanctuary has pine woods, dunes, marsh, and beach habitats. Trails run through the property, making it a top spot for spring and fall wood warblers.
What birds can I see on Dauphin Island?
Dauphin Island hosts an impressive diversity of resident and migratory species. Here are some of the noteworthy birds to watch for:
Shorebirds
Dauphin Island’s beaches, marshes, and mudflats provide critical habitat for migrating shorebirds. Some species to look for include:
- Piping plover
- Wilson’s plover
- American oystercatcher
- Willet
- Marbled godwit
- Ruddy turnstone
- Sanderling
- Dunlin
- Short-billed dowitcher
- Semipalmated sandpiper
Seabirds
The island’s undisturbed beaches provide nesting habitat for impressive numbers of seabirds. Look for:
- Brown pelican
- Laughing gull
- Herring gull
- Caspian tern
- Royal tern
- Sandwich tern
- Forster’s tern
- Least tern
- Black skimmer
Songbirds
Migrating songbirds flock to the island’s wooded areas each spring and fall. Some top species include:
- Scarlet tanager
- Summer tanager
- Indigo bunting
- Painted bunting
- Orchard oriole
- Hooded warbler
- Kentucky warbler
- Yellow-throated warbler
- Prairie warbler
- Canada warbler
Raptors
Migrating hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures can be seen overhead on Dauphin Island, especially during spring and fall. Look for:
- Broad-winged hawk
- Sharp-shinned hawk
- Cooper’s hawk
- Northern harrier
- American kestrel
- Merlin
- Peregrine falcon
- Osprey
- Mississippi kite
- Bald eagle
Wading Birds
Abundant wetlands and shorelines provide habitat for numerous herons, egrets, ibises, and spoonbills. Some species include:
- Great blue heron
- Great egret
- Snowy egret
- Little blue heron
- Tricolored heron
- Reddish egret
- Cattle egret
- Black-crowned night-heron
- White ibis
- Glossy ibis
- Roseate spoonbill
Waterfowl
The island’s beaches and wetlands attract good numbers of migrating and wintering ducks and geese. Some top species include:
- Northern pintail
- Redhead
- Lesser scaup
- Bufflehead
- Common goldeneye
- Hooded merganser
- Red-breasted merganser
- Ruddy duck
- Snow goose
- American wigeon
What tips and resources can help me have a great birding experience on Dauphin Island?
Here are some useful tips for having an awesome birding adventure on Dauphin Island:
- Get a map of the island showing top birding spots and sanctuary locations.
- Bring a good pair of binoculars and a spotting scope if possible.
- Pack a bird field guide or use a birding app to help with identifications.
- Wear muted colors to blend into the environment and not startle birds.
- Walk slowly and quietly on trails to maximize sightings.
- Visit different habitats like forests, beaches, and wetlands.
- Follow ethical birding practices and do not disturb nesting or feeding birds.
- Chat with local birders and park staff to get insider knowledge on recent sightings.
- Keep an eBird checklist to help you identify and log all the species you see.
Some useful resources for planning your Dauphin Island birding adventure include:
- Dauphin Island Birding Trail map from Audubon Alabama
- Dauphin Island page on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail website
- Dauphin Island eBird hotspot with recent sightings and target species
- Dauphin Island town website with maps, amenities, and guidance
With proper preparation and exploration of the island’s diverse habitats, you’re sure to have a memorable and rewarding birding experience on Dauphin Island!
Conclusion
Dauphin Island is a premier destination for year-round birding in the Southeast. Its location on the Mississippi Flyway migration route and diversity of coastal habitats make it a birdwatcher’s paradise. Planning your trip around the peak spring and fall migrations offers the chance to see the highest diversity of species, but every season brings special sightings. Be sure to explore the excellent bird sanctuaries operated by the Audubon Society as well as state parks, beaches, maritime forests, and wetlands across the rest of the island. Keep an eye out for shorebirds, nesting seabirds, migrating songbirds, raptors, waders, waterfowl, and more. With some preparation and field guidance, you’ll be sure to have a fantastic birding adventure on Dauphin Island!