If you have limited mobility, information about the terrain and possible mobility challenges are included in each trip description in the Events page. We encourage you to contact us to ask about specific events to recommend or avoid depending on your specific abilities. Contact us via email: info@alaudubon.org

Yes! All events are open to everyone, regardless of their knowledge or experience with birds and birding. All of our guides are experienced in teaching people of all skill levels on how to find and identify birds and use basic birding gear.

• 100% refund if requested in writing (including email) on or before June 30, 2026. 

• 50% refund if requested in writing (including email) before July 16, 2026. 

• After July 17, 2026, no refunds will be issued, even for those who do not attend the event. 

While unlikely, it is possible that an event may be cancelled (e.g., due to low enrollment, extreme weather). If an event is cancelled by Alabama Audubon, you will be notified via an email from us as soon as possible, and you will be offered the choice of a full refund or the opportunity to donate your registration fee to our Black Belt conservation initiative.

Registration for all events will be closed July 26 at 11:59PM. There can be no changes to registrations after this date.

Yes, until the end of the registration period. Call our Financial and Administrative Director, Keith Wolfe-Hughes, at 205.719.3678 ext 9 for assistance with changing your registration.  Please note that changes may require payment of additional fees if the costs of events are different than your original registration. Registration for additional events is subject to availability. 

Unfortunately, there is no automated way to maintain waitlists with the current registration platform, and manually maintaining dozens of waitlists is impractical. While cancellations are rare, we recommend checking back regularly to see if space has become available. Caps on the number of guests are firm to help ensure quality experiences for registered guests.  

Please call all our Financial and Administrative Director, Keith Wolfe-Hughes, at 205.719.3678 ext 9 for help with any ticket questions. 

All finalized location meeting places and GPS coordinates will be emailed before the festival in an Information PDF.

We strongly encourage using Google Maps app to navigate in the Black Belt. Because cell phone service is spotty in the Black Belt, be sure to download the app and familiarize yourself with it before coming. Importantly, download a Google Map for the area you will be visiting so that you can use the app without cell service (instructions here). A final logistics PDF will be sent with the specific address for the event meeting spots.

We recommend downloading the logistics PDF to have on hand in case internet service is not functional.

All events are rain or shine. Please dress accordingly and prepare for wet weather. After a rain the birding can be great in the Black Belt in summer. Thus, trips will be cancelled only under the circumstance that weather events make conditions unsafe. If rain is in the forecast, we suggest you plan on attending the event. Your guides will have options available that include a temporary delay of the event to allow inclement weather to pass.

All events are a al carte! To maximize your enjoyment of the festival, ensure you have sufficient time to travel between events. Outings are in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings, but because start/finish times vary, the time gap between your events for travel also varies. Plan accordingly. Google Map of Events

• Please visit the Lodging page for areas to stay.

• Regardless of where you stay, consider reducing your driving time/distance by lodging near the events you will attend, especially those early in the morning or late in the day.     

The weather changes frequently, so be prepared for a variety of conditions. Checking the forecast 24-48 hours in advance can help you plan. Hot, humid, rainy, dry, windy, calm—they can all happen on the same day! Bring and use sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc.). Bring insect repellent, especially if you are out early or late in the day. Bring rain protection for both yourself and your gear. Dress in layers, bring water, and snacks.

While binoculars or other optical gear are not necessary to enjoy birding, they do enhance the experience. Guests are expected to bring their own binoculars. Loaner binoculars can be made available with advance notice. Contact us at info@alaudubon.or  

We are excited to bring an all-star lineup of birding guides from the local area and across the Southeast. Your guide(s) will be listed on the Info PDF.

Meals are not provided unless explicitly stated in the event description.

The Alabama Black Belt offers plenty to do for non-birders, including fishing on the Tombigbee River or Lake Demopolis, relaxing at local catfish ponds, and enjoying slow outdoor time on the water. You can explore scenic backroads or visit places like Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge for easy trails, river scenery, and picnic spots.

History and culture are also a big part of the region, the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail offering museums, walking trails, and powerful Civil Rights landmarks. Magnolia Grove also offers historic tours and special exhibits.

On Saturday, August 1, in Greensboro, there will also be an artist market at Sumac Cottage, offering a chance to browse local work and handmade goods. Visitors can also spend time walking through the town’s historic downtown, Greensboro Antiques, cafés, and restaurants that highlight the character of the Black Belt.

If you have any specific questions about the event that haven’t been answered above, send us an email: info@alaudubon.org