Island Birding
Birding Trails
From the 1998 original brochure: “The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail was originally the brain-child of Bob Reid, birder by avocation, conservationist, avid supporter of Partners in Flight, and member of the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) …. No work on birding in Alabama can be complete without the contributions of Dr. Greg Jackson, Pre-eminent Alabama birder, and keeper of the records.”
- John & Jackie Porter, Editors.
The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is comprised of more than fifty well-organized stops along six major loops that span over two hundred mils of the two counties in the coastal region of south Alabama. There are various ecological regions along the trail so that the different coastal habitats that host diverse populations of bird species are represented. The trail sits along one of the main corridors of the Neo-tropical migration route for more than four hundred different species of birds.
Alabama Coastal Birding Trail
Updated as of 2021
In 2021, the Alabama Birding Trails website was launched to provide information on the system of eight trails that highlight the best public locations available to watch birds year-round across the entire state of Alabama. The website included updates for the original six coastal birding loops in Baldwin and Mobile counties and covers different ecological regions representative of the northern Gulf Coast. A wealth of resources, including maps, directions, possible bird sightings, educational materials, and more, are packed into this website for those who want to explore the amazing biodiversity that is Alabama.
This project is a collaboration of the Alabama Tourism Department, the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Alabama Audubon Society (Birmingham). The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail has been described as an Alabama treasure that blends the best of conservation and tourism. By illuminating dynamic coastal habitats and a high diversity of bird species, the trail allows birders and visitors to experience and enjoy one of the marvels of the state of Alabama.