Many birders in Tennessee have enjoyed wonderful days seeing migrants at
Dauphin Island, Alabama. The island is one of the closest places for us to
experience the thrill of new arrivals crossing the Gulf. The birds also need
good habitat to reenergize to make it up to Tennessee. Now we have a chance to
give back to this special place and help ensure migrants have good habitat when
they arrive. A tract of four contiguous properties on the island is for sale
with a limited time offering. This would be a wonderful addition to the
property already managed by the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary (DIBS).
DIBS was created to acquire, preserve, and manage suitable bird habitat on
Dauphin Island. According to Don McKee, DIBS boardmember, the main reason this
Dauphin Island property is so vital for migrant stopover habitat is this is not
just one lot but four contiguous properties in a residential area on a quiet
dead-end street. This property adjoins, to the south, undeveloped Property
Owners Association (POA) dune properties and the POA owned island golf course
which borders the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, this property has never been
developed and is heavily vegetated with native plant species providing vital
habitat and food source for migrant birds as well as permanent avian species.
These four lots will be the most southerly lots within the DIBS portfolio of
island properties...prime refueling areas for arriving migrants to replenish
their energy to continue their migration. The properties were thoroughly
inspected with little or no invasive flora and fauna species found. DIBS works
diligently to remove all exotic species found in/on their properties and if
necessary will revegetate with native plants to enhance the stopover habitat.
If DIBS is able to purchase these lots they hope to create bird watching
opportunities for the birding public but the main focus will be to continue to
provide prime stopover habitat for birds.
Currently Dauphin Island is experiencing unprecedented home building (As of
today, 31 new homes and commercial buildings permits were issued since January
2019). ..unfortunately destroying prime habitat for not only migrant birds but
also destroying habitat for native birds and colonial nesters i.e. egrets,
herons, etc.
NOW is the time we must buy as there is a short window of opportunity. DIBS
has only 55 days now (July 30th) to come up with the needed funds to purchase
these properties. The total cost for the four properties is $220,000. Please
help by making a contribution to acquire the properties. Matching funds are
available to increase any contribution you make. DIBS is a 501C3 non-profit
and any money contributed is tax deductible. DIBS is an all volunteer
organization so all monies go straight to land purchase or maintenance.
You know what needs to happen. So now we need you to take action and make it
so. The info for contributions to DIBS and a web page link is attached below.
Chuck Estes
Oak Ridge, TN
Send donations to:
Treasurer, Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc.
PO Box 1295
Dauphin Island, AL 36528
https://www.coastalbirding.org/donations.htm ;
<https://www.coastalbirding.org/donations.htm>
