Spring 2025 Meeting
Unless otherwise noted, all AOS Spring Meeting events, except field trips, take place at the Dauphin Island Community Center, 412 Lemoyne Drive. See each field trip for meeting time and place. Dress is casual for the entire meeting.
Important information about parking Parking at Dauphin Island beaches requires paying a parking fee using the ParkMobile app. At the time of the meeting the cost is $10 for one calendar day (not 24 hours across days).
Cash or credit card payments are not accepted at the beaches. Your vehicle will be booted if a check shows you have not paid. You can download the ParkMobile app from Google Play and iPhone’s App Store. Unless you are staying on the island you cannot park along the streets or at the side street parking lots west of where Bienville Boulevard reduces to two lanes.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11
5:30pm AOS Board Meeting via Zoom
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
America’s Amazon—Small boat tour of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta with Ben Raines
There was considerable interest last year in the Ben Raines boat trip to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta (America’s Amazon). For those arriving on the coast early or for those who live here, I have arranged for a tour Thursday, April 17. Ben is fully booked other days. Tour is restricted to six people.
This is a five to six-hour small boat exploration of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, an incredibly rich habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including, of course, birds. Ben Raines is a true expert on this region—from his website: “plants are blooming intensely and the alligators are out and about. The trip covers about 30 miles in all, with most of the time spent creeping around with a silent electric motor in remote nooks and crannies of the Delta. We commonly see Bald Eagles, gators, wild hogs, dozens of species of birds, from tiny warblers to owls to Swallowtail Kites. I specialize in catching various critters from the water or the swampy shores. We eat plants we find growing everywhere. We’ll put a net in the water and see one or two of Alabama’s nearly 400 fish species. It’s a really fun day.”
A couple of years ago I (DH) was lucky enough to see the amazing mating display of huge Alabama Sturgeon, a decidedly prehistoric looking fish. I have been on this trip numerous times and always look forward to my next one. This is a prepaid trip and is limited to just six. Cost is $160, and we require six people or a surcharge will be applied. We will advise if this will be needed and allow for free cancellation. Departure is 7:30am from Meaher State Park (opposite Five Rivers Center). If you want to go, contact me—andrew@natsp.com or 251-367-2948 to sign up; booking will close April 1.
FRIDAY, APRIL 18
7:00am Field Trip: Splinter Hill Bog
Meet at Green Park, next to Ship and Shore at 6:45am for a 7:00am departure. We will car pool where possible due to restricted parking at Splinter Hill. A stop will be made at the Chevron gas station when we turn left off I-65 at Exit 45 for a restroom break and snacks. There is no restroom at the bog. It is an hour and twenty-minute drive from Dauphin Island to the Chevron, then five minutes to Splinter Hill along CR47.
5:00pm Registration opens: Dauphin Island Community Center, 412 Lemoyne Drive.
5:30-6:30pm Social Hour: Beverages by DIBS, donations welcome. Members photos will be shown—email Drew Haffenden (andrew@natsp.com) for details.
7:00-7:15pm Outings and general meeting news.
7:15-8:15pm Workshop: Identifying Plovers with Drew Haffenden.
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
7:00am Field Trip: Around the Island
Meet at Green Park, next to Ship and Shore. We’ll car pool as much as possible. The outing will visit the island hot spots, taking into account bird activity, including the beach, but see field trip below.
7:00am Field Trip: Main Beach/Pelican Island If there are good numbers of shorebirds, terns, etc. present, we will run a beach bird outing including a hands-on ID pointers taking in the Friday night workshop. If this outing operates it will be announced Friday night and then the Around the Island outing may not include the beach. We will meet at Middle Beach parking lot. See opposite page for parking fee information.
8:00am Independent Travel:
Fort Morgan Bird Banding: Alabama Audubon will be concluding their banding at Fort Morgan at noon. Visitors are welcome to watch birds being brought in from the nets, banded and released. Our meeting speaker will be there banding, so say hello. The 8:00am ferry from Dauphin Island will get you there at 8:45, and you can walk across to the banding area, or take your car and drive into the fort (payment required) for additional birding. The 10:15am ferry from Fort Morgan will have you back on the island at 10:45am, in time for lunch. If you stay longer to bird, there are 11:45am and 1:15pm ferry departures.
11:30am Jennie’s Famous Lunch: Lunch at the home of Jennie Stowers. Jennie will provide all the food.
5:00pm Registration opens: Dauphin Island
Community Center, 412 Lemoyne Drive.
5:30-6:30pm Social Hour: Beverages by DIBS, donations welcome. Members photos will be shown—email Drew Haffenden (andrew@natsp.com) for details.
6:30-7:30pm Banquet and announcements.
7:30-8:30pm Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lianne Kozcur will be talking about the nesting and fledging of Snowy Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers in Alabama, including on Dauphin Island.
Alabama Audubon staff and volunteers have been monitoring these high priority species over the last seven years and have learned a great deal about their breeding success, the causes of nest failure and other aspects of their life on the beach. This information has directed management efforts aimed at increasing nesting success, particularly for Snowy Plovers. Lianne will talk about some of the challenges and successes of conservation work for these species.
SUNDAY, APRIL 20
7:00am Field trip to Blakely Mud Lakes
The mud lakes are one of the best shorebird areas near the Alabama coast, and as migration will be in full swing it should be a busy place. Avocets and Black-necked Stilts are regulars, along with a number of other species. Land birds are also plentiful in the bushes, especially if there is a strong migration at the time. There is very limited parking so if you are returning to the island, please carpool. Visitors must have obtained a permit to visit Blakely and have received their pass prior to arrival. This is strictly enforced. To get the free permit go to https://www.alports.com/birding/. 12 noon Compilation at the Goat Trees.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND INFORMATION
Accommodations on Dauphin island are limited, so be sure to make reservations early for AOS Meetings.
Websites
www.gulfinfo.com
www.townofdauphinisland.org/where-to-stay
Motels
Gulf Breeze Motel: 251-861-7344 or 1-800-286-0296
Bed and Breakfast
Dauphin Island Harbor House: 251-861-2119
Air BnB has lots of rentals! www.airbnb.com
Rentals
Boardwalk Realty, Inc.: 877-861-3992
Tyson Real Estate: 800-865-8312
ACP Real Estate, Inc.: 866-861-3311