Birders and nature lovers flock to south Alabama every year to experience one of the prime birdwatching opportunities on the Gulf Coast during fall migration. More than 370 bird species have been spotted at various locations along the Alabama coast, and BirdFest guides expertly lead attendees on boat and walking trips to some of the best birding spots in the area, including locations along the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail.

Alabama Coastal BirdFest takes attendees into the Mobile Delta, to the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary, historic Fort Morgan, and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, among other locations. Back by popular demand, a trip to our neighboring state, Mississippi, to the Sand Hill Crane Refuge. The four-day event also includes workshops on subjects such as hummingbirds, the basics of birding, workshops on how to use common birding apps, such as eBird and Merlin Bird ID, and understanding bird box design for specific species. A free family-friendly Bird and Nature Expo will be held at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center on the Saturday of BirdFest from 9am-1pm The Expo highlights other local non-profits and environmental agencies, hands-on activities, and short boat cruises lead by a junior birder!

Since 2004, BirdFest has raised more than $100,000 to help preserve and protect vital coastal bird and wildlife habitat and increase the awareness of the great biological diversity of the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Schedule Of Events:

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

6:30am-2pm: Fort Morgan State Historic Site Bird Banding

Charter bus (with bathroom) departs promptly at 6:30am. The American Bird Conservancy calls Fort Morgan one of the top globally important bird areas in the United States. Visit open areas, light woods, and shoreline around this historic site, hoping to see a variety of neotropical migrants, resident birds, and hawks. This trip also includes visiting one of the banding sites of the Banding Coalition of the Americas and a chance to hold a bird and release it.

Departs from 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center (DRC): 6:30am
Price: $65

6:45am-8:45am: Beginner Birdwatching

On this short walk around the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center grounds, we will be looking at herons, gulls, terns and passerine birds, mainly blackbirds and warblers. The guides will provide participants with guidelines on how to spot and identify birds and walk through identification of each of the species that we see. Be sure to bring your binoculars and any bird identification books or apps you have.

Meet at 5 Rivers DRC: 6:45am
Price: $20

8am-11am: Kayak Paddle on Mobile-Tensaw Delta

Launch from the kayak launch at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center’s Bartram Landing in Spanish Fort AL with WildNative Tours. Floating amongst the marsh, watch and learn about a variety of wildlife including alligators, Bald Eagles, Ospreys, herons, cormorants, pelicans, and nutrias. US history is deep and colorful in this region, and so is WildNative Tour’s commentary, including points on the history, geology, ecology and characters of the Delta. Includes guide, boat, PFD, and paddle. Kayak Launch is ADA accessible.


Departs from 5 Rivers DRC Bartram Landing: 8:00am
Price: $55

9am-10:30am: Binoculars and Birding Gear Workshop

Led by Alabama Audubon and Alabama Ornithological Society, learn how to pick the right binoculars for you, and how to effectively bird with binoculars. Additionally, learn about the gear you should always have on you while birding. Please bring your binoculars to become familiar with your own. Binoculars will also be on hand test, too.

Begins at Tensaw Theatre at 5 Rivers DRC: 9:00am
Price: $15

9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm: Small Boat Eco Tour of Mobile-Tensaw Delta

A small group of birders will enjoy a personalized boat journey into the vast wilderness of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Travel with local nature expert Ben Raines, a licensed charter captain, award-winning journalist, and filmmaker. Ben coined the term “America’s Amazon” which has now become the name of a published book and documentary. The Delta is one of the largest wetland systems on the continent, covering hundreds of thousands of acres with a network of rivers and creeks that braid together and twist apart. Trip is limited to six participants.

Departs from Live Oak Landing: 9:00am
Price: $200

9am-10:30am and 1pm-2:30pm:  Delta Explorer Pontoon Cruise – Lower Delta

This pontoon boat excursion showcases the incredible beauty and natural diversity of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This is the second largest delta in the U.S. and one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world. Every one of these outings take a slightly different course and features unmatched opportunities to view the abundance of the Delta wildlife, such as Bald Eagles, Ospreys, several varieties of herons, gallinules, and, of course, alligators.

Departs from 5 Rivers DRC Bartram Landing: 9:00am
Price: $35

12:30pm-2pm: Basics of Birding Workshop

New to birding and want to enhance your experiences during BirdFest and beyond? This workshop offers tips on how to engage your senses while identifying birds by sight and sound, how to use equipment such as binoculars, what you need to know about birding etiquete, and more.

Begins at Tensaw Theatre at 5 Rivers DRC: 12:30pm
Price: $15

3pm-4:30pm: eBird and Merlin Bird ID App Workshop

This workshop offers guidance, clarity, and hands on instruction on how to use two well-known apps, eBird and Merlin Bird ID, to their full potential. Merlin Bird ID leverages the power of eBird observations to help beginners identify common birds. Merlin uses eBird data to create a short list of birds that match the user’s description and are likely to be found at the location and time of the sighting.

Begins at Tensaw Theatre at 5 Rivers DRC: 3:00pm
Price: $15

5pm-7pm: Welcome Reception - District Hall in Fairhope

Mingle with fellow birders and guides and enjoy a photo slide show, “Nature Through Lenses” focusing on works from 2023 featured photographer, Stephanie Pluscht. Food will be by District Hall, a local favorite restaurant. Cash bar available. Stick around atierwards to join in on District Hall’s trivia beginning at 6:30pm on the outdoor patio!

Meet at District Hall in Fairhope: 5:00pm
Price: $30

Thursday, October 5, 2023

6:30am-2pm: Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Research Vessel

Join marine biologists from Dauphin Island Sea Lab for a cruise aboard the Research Vessel Alabama Discovery. Learn the Bay’s history, ecology, and value, perhaps see botlenose dolphins and the Sand Island Lighthouse up close, and view specimens caught in a trawl net. You’ll also see a wide variety of terns and gulls and might even spot a Northern Gannet or Magnificent Frigatebird. Includes a stop at the Alabama Aquarium on Dauphin Island. The rain date for this trip will be the same time for October 6. Requires notarized form to board vessel, which will be emailed to you upon registration.

Departs from 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center (DRC): 6:30am
Price: $65

6:45am-9:45am: Beginner/Intermediate Birdwatching

Village Point Park Preserve and Bayfront Park in Daphne AL are a local favorite and one of the area’s most accessible and highly diverse birding spots. It is one of the planned stops for a Victor Emmanuel Nature Tours tour of Alabama in 2024. A guide will teach participants how to identify species of birds regularly seen locally. Be sure to bring your binoculars and any bird identification books or apps you have.

Meet at Village Point/Bayfront Park: 6:45am
Price: $25

7am-11am: Pine Beach Trail of Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge on Fort Morgan Peninsula is a prime birding location. Guides and naturalists will take you down Pine Beach Trail, a 3.5 mile out-and-back trail near Gulf Shores AL through woods, coastal marsh, and sandy beaches to seek birds and wildlife in a variety of habitats.

Meet at Pine Beach Trailhead: 7:00am
Price: $30

8am-10:30am: Hummingbird Workshop

The program, taught by Fred Basset, will discuss Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in depth and introduce several western hummingbird species wintering in the Southeast and show how they are banded. Fred Basset is a certified master bird bander who is president of Hummingbird Research, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the
study and preservation of hummingbirds. Results of his research have been in several national publications.

Begins at Tensaw Theatre at 5 Rivers DRC: 8:00am
Price: $15

8am-2pm: The Birds, Wildlife, and Habitats of Gulf State Park

Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores AL is home to a variety of ecosystems ranging from beaches to maritime forests and pine savannas. The park is home to a host of diverse species of plants and animals, including resident and migrating birds and several rare, threatened, or endangered species. Come explore the park and learn why it is so important to preserve this unique area. Lunch is not provided, please pack one with you.

Meet at Gulf State Park Pavilion: 8:00am
Price: $35

8am-11am: Kayak Paddle on Graham Creek/Wolf Bay

Launch from the kayak launch at Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley AL with WildNative Tours. The Preserve also has several trails and boardwalks to explore on your own atierwards if you would like! Includes guide, boat, PFD, and paddle.

Departs from Graham Creek Kayak Launch: 8:00am
Price: $55

9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm: Small Boat Eco Tour of Mobile-Tensaw Delta

A small group of birders will enjoy a personalized boat journey into the vast wilderness of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Travel with local nature expert Ben Raines, a licensed charter captain, award-winning journalist, and filmmaker. Ben coined the term “America’s Amazon” which has now become the name of a published book and
documentary. The Delta is one of the largest wetland systems on the continent, covering hundreds of thousands of acres with a network of rivers and creeks that braid together and twist apart. Trip is limited to six participants.

Departs from Live Oak Landing: 9:00am
Price: $200

3pm-5pm: Bird and Nature Photography Workshop

Of all wildlife, birds are among the most colorful, behaviorally intriguing, and varied, making them extremely fun and challenging to photograph. Learn tips and tricks on how to capture incredible moments of nature in action and in stillness. This workshop is taught by the dynamic duo, Paul Dovie (Airwind Creative) and Mark Wats (Waterline Photos and Videos).

Begins at Tensaw Theatre at 5 Rivers DRC: 3:00pm
Price: $15

5pm-7pm: Sunset Pontoon Cruise of Weeks Bay

Enjoy the sunset on a leisurely pontoon cruise aboard the Weeks Bay Explorer where you will learn about the important estuary that not only supports young marine life but also healthy bird habitat. The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) is a stop on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. Weeks Bay NERR is comprised of
9,317 acres and contains upland and botomland hardwood forests, salt and freshwater marshes, submerged aquatic vegetation and unique bog habitats.

Departs from Weeks Bay Reserve Marina: 5:00pm
Price: $35

Friday, October 6, 2023

6:30am-2pm: Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi

Charter bus (with bathroom) departs promptly at 6:30am. Join the staff of the refuge for an overview and tour of the refuge and get a behind the scenes look at management practices. Historically, non-migratory Sandhill Cranes inhabited much of the Gulf Coast, but loss of habitat due to timber farming and wildfire suppression has confined the Mississippi Sandhill Crane to the 19,300 acres of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. The wet pine savanna habitat, where Sandhill Cranes call home, is one of the most species-diverse plant communities in North America. Atier visiting the refuge, you will go with your guides to Bethel Bike trails for Red-cockaded Woodpecker or Pascagoula River Audubon Center for migrants and marsh birds if time allows.

Departs from 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center (DRC): 6:30am
Price: $65

6:30am-2pm: Bayou La Batre, Forever Wild Grand Bay Savanna, Lightning Point, Point Aux Pins Trip

The Nature Conservancy calls this area one of the "last great places on Earth". Fishing, shrimping, and oyster harvesting are big businesses as shown in the classic movie, Forrest Gump. Birding concentrates on water birds, shorebirds, and marsh species, with passerines and raptors abundant in the fall.

Departs from 5 Rivers DRC: 6:30am
Price: $65

6:45am-8:45am: Beginner Birdwatching

On this short walk around the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center grounds, we will be looking at herons, gulls, terns and passerine birds, mainly blackbirds and warblers. The guides will provide participants with guidelines on how to spot and identify birds and walk through identification of each of the species that we see. Be sure to bring your binoculars and any bird identification books or apps you have.

Begins at 5 Rivers DRC: 6:45am
Price:$20

7:30am-1pm: Dauphin Island/Trans Gulf Migration Flyway

Dauphin Island has been named the "Birdiest Small City" in the U.S. and for good reason. Located on the Gulf Migration Flyway, Dauphin Island has been named one of the "top four locations in North America for viewing neotropical migration". Visit prime birding spots, starting at the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary, then Goat
Trees Reserve, ending at Indian Shell Mound Park.

Meet at Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary: 7:30am
Price: $30

8am-11am: Kayak Paddle on Perch Creek in Mobile

Paddle the City of Mobile's new birding trail, the Perch Creek Nature Trail and Preserve in the lower Dog River Watershed. Meander through serene waters of the Dog River Scenic Blueway and enjoy the thriving ecosystem. Watch for Bald Eagles, Ospreys, various songbirds, shorebirds, and maybe a glimpse of the resident Pileated
Woodpeckers. Guides will share their knowledge of the special flora and fauna found in this urban estuarine system. Includes guide, boat, PFD, and paddle.

Departs from McNally Park launch: 8:00am
Price: $55

9am-12pm: Small Boat Eco Tour of Mobile-Tensaw Delta

A small group of birders will enjoy a personalized boat journey into the vast wilderness of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Travel with local nature expert Ben Raines, a licensed charter captain, award-winning journalist, and filmmaker. Ben coined the term "America's Amazon" which has now become the name of a published book and documentary. The Delta is one of the largest wetland systems on the continent, covering hundreds of thousands of acres with a network of rivers and creeks that braid together and twist apart. Trip is limited to six participants.

Departs from Live Oak Landing: 9:00am
Price: $200

9am-12pm: Delta Explorer Pontoon Cruise of Upper Mobile-Tensaw Delta

Explore the secluded regions of the vast Delta in its most natural seting. Depart from Live Oak Landing, located on the Tensaw River in the upper Delta. Venture up this storied waterway around the infamous "Devil's Bend", into Botle Creek before journeying down the Middle River and returning to the Tensaw.

Departs from Live Oak Landing: 9:00am
Price:$60

9am-11am: Birds and Blooms

Although within the Daphne city limits, this rustic site consists of 6 plus acres encircled by a walking path. Participants may choose to focus on birdwatching or plant identification or a mixture of both. Your hosts and guides are a part of the Audubon Eastern Shore Birders and Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries. The yard is filled with plants that atract birds and buterflies, numerous bird feeding stations, water features, and wooded areas. Learn how you can implement some of these features in your own yard to atract the birds you like. Viewing areas include an outdoor deck, two glassed-in sun porches, and a spacious front porch. Refreshments will be available.

Meet at location TBA in Daphne, AL: 9:00am
Price: $20

12pm-2:30pm: About Cavity Nesters and Wood Duck Box Build Workshop

Learn about the different types of bird boxes, how to pick which type is right for your yard, and how providing nest boxes can help secure homes for migratory birds in areas with limited bird habitat options. Examples of cavity nesting birds would include bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, Tutied Titmice, screech owls, Great Crested Flycatchers, woodpeckers, and Wood Ducks. Discussion will cover the construction of boxes to atract these types of birds and their potential predator control options. Then, join Mobile County Wildlife Conservation Association in assembling Wood Duck boxes that will be deployed into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta on a later date.

Begins at Tensaw Theatre at 5 Rivers DRC: 12:00pm
Price: $15

1pm-4pm: Small Boat Eco Tour of Mobile-Tensaw Delta

A small group of birders will enjoy a personalized boat journey into the vast wilderness of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Travel with local nature expert Ben Raines, a licensed charter captain, award-winning journalist, and filmmaker. Ben coined the term "America's Amazon" which has now become the name of a published book and
documentary. The Delta is one of the largest wetland systems on the continent, covering hundreds of thousands of acres with a network of rivers and creeks that braid together and twist apart. Trip is limited to six participants.

Departs from Live Oak Landing: 1:00pm
Price: $200

1pm-4pm: Delta Explorer Pontoon Cruise of Upper Mobile-Tensaw Delta

A small group of birders will enjoy a personalized boat journey into the vast wilderness of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Travel with local nature expert Ben Raines, a licensed charter captain, award-winning journalist, and filmmaker. Ben coined the term "America's Amazon" which has now become the name of a published book and
documentary. The Delta is one of the largest wetland systems on the continent, covering hundreds of thousands of acres with a network of rivers and creeks that braid together and twist apart. Trip is limited to six participants.

Departs from Live Oak Landing: 1:00pm
Price: $60

3pm-4:30pm: Building a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Ecosystems are being quickly damaged by what's known as fragmentation. National parks, state lands, and other protected properties help in reconnecting vital habitats, but the power in private property has great potential in increasing biodiversity and in re-wilding land. Whether you have a small yard, balcony, or many acres, everyone can participate in reconnecting these ecosystems. Learn about the importance of planting native plants, and best practices in categories such as water, cover, sustainability, breeding places and food sources. This workshop is a great example of how a suburban home can still be "neat and tidy" yet successful in re-wilding a bland yard.

Meet at 103 Blakeney in Fairhope, AL: 3:00pm
Price: $15

6pm-9pm: Reception and Keynote Speaker Presentation: Alabama Sojourn: Through the Eyes of a Migrant

Enjoy a selection of beverages, including beer and wine, desserts, and heavy appetizers by Georgia Roussos Catering from 6:00pm-8:00pm then join us in the Tensaw Theater to hear from this year's keynote speaker, Emma Rhodes, co-founder of the Banding Coalition of the Americas. Emma's presentation is titled Alabama Sojourn: Through the
Eyes of a Migrant.

Biography: Ornithologist and South Alabama native, Emma Rhodes has been an avid birder from a young age and began participating in migration banding as a teen with Bob and Martha Sargent at the Fort Morgan State Historic Site in Gulf Shores, AL. In 2019, she became one of the youngest Master Banders in North America and has worked with and studied a variety of avian taxa, from hummingbirds to birds of prey. Emma has worked alongside various avian conservation organizations in Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and the Bahamas monitoring coastal birds. She has also worked with both state and National Audubon chapters and is an instructor for the Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine where her purpose is to educate and inspire the next generation of birders. Emma received her BS in Biology, with a minor in Geographic Information Systems, at the University of South Alabama and is currently a PhD candidate at Auburn University where her thesis work is focused on studying the physiological underpinnings of bird migration. In 2022, her PhD work entitled "Mitochondria Power the Evolution of Bird Migration" received prestigious awards from both the National Science Foundation and the Society for the Study of Evolution. Apart from her graduate work, Emma is a co-founder of Banding Coalition of the Americas (BCA), a non-profit organization focused on beter understanding migratory birds using banding and advanced tracking techniques. At its core, BCA believes in the importance of bird banding and research as a public outreach tool and has several on-going studies in the state of Alabama.

Begins at 5 Rivers DRC: 6:00pm
Price: $60

Saturday, October 7, 2023

6:30am-2pm: Shorebird Field Workshop Dauphin Island

Charter bus (with bathroom) departs promptly at 6:30am. Dauphin Island is classified as an "Important Bird Area" (IBA) and one of the "10 most globally important sites" for migration. Visit the maritime forest, marshes, and dunes of Audubon Bird Sanctuary and Pelican Island, a narrow strip of land that migrated from Sand Island Lighthouse and is now atached to Dauphin Island. Your guide will provide instruction on shorebird identification and habitat.

Departs from 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center (DRC): 6:30am
Price: $65

9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm: Small Boat Eco Tour of Mobile-Tensaw Delta

A small group of birders will enjoy a personalized boat journey into the vast wilderness of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Travel with local nature expert Ben Raines, a licensed charter captain, award-winning journalist, and filmmaker. Ben coined the term "America's Amazon" which has now become the name of a published book and
documentary. The Delta is one of the largest wetland systems on the continent, covering hundreds of thousands of acres with a network of rivers and creeks that braid together and twist apart. Trip is limited to six participants.

Departs from Live Oak Landing: 9:00am
Price: $200

9am-1pm: Bird and Nature Festival at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center

Free, fun, and family-friendly, come participate in a variety of activities and exhibits hosted by local environmental groups, non-profits, and other agencies. Learn about local conservation efforts, nature, and more! Two live raptor shows presented by the Mobile County Environmental Studies Center will begin at 10:00AM and 12:00PM. Three boat tours aboard Blakeley State Park's Delta Explorer depart from 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center dock at 9:00AM, 10:30AM, and 12:30PM. Boat tours are free, though donations are appreciated, and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Pontoon boat tours will be led by Mason Currier, a junior birder, who leads birding tours for young birders.

Begins at 5 Rivers DRC: 9:00am
Price: Free

Date: October 4-7, 2023

Location: Five Rivers Delta Resource Center, 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort, AL 36527

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