Monday April 19th, 2027

If a guest cancels their registration, refunds are subject to the following conditions:

• 100% refund if requested in writing/email on or before March 28, 2027. 

• 50% refund if requested in writing/email between March 29 and April 11, 2027. 

• After April 12, 2027, no refunds will be issued, even for those who do not attend the event. 

If a trip is cancelled by Alabama Audubon, you will be offered the choice of a full refund or the opportunity to donate your registration fee to our coastal conservation program.

While unlikely, it is possible that an event may be cancelled (e.g., dangerous conditions, boat mechanical failure). 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 coastal conservation program.

All events are rain or shine. In fact, rain or strong winds on the Gulf Coast in late April can trigger incredible visible migrations at migrant hotspots. Please check the forecast and come prepared for weather that can range from hot to cool, rainy to dry, windy to calm. Trips will only be cancelled due to weather if conditions are unsafe.

Yes. 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 new 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.

The opening night celebration and keynote is a ticketed event, but the other social events on Friday and Saturday are free and open to all guests. Come mingle with our guests of honor, guides, fellow birders, Alabama Audubon staff and board members!  All social events will be posted in January 2027.

There is much to keep anyone happily entertained in the area. In addition to our beautiful and abundant public beaches, there are activities such as fishing and kayaking, great restaurants, museums and art galleries, and so much more.  The following websites provide many opportunities:

Daphne: https://www.discoverdaphne.org/

Dauphin Island: https://www.dauphinislandtourism.com/

Fairhope: https://fairhopers.com/

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach: https://www.gulfshores.com/

Mobile: https://www.mobile.org/

Spanish Fort: https://www.cityofspanishfort.com/attractions

The most convenient airport for the festival is the Mobile Regional Airport. Nextdoor in Florida is the Pensacola International Airport, which is typically a 50-minute drive to Spanish Fort, AL, on Interstate 10. Finally, the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is typically an 85-min drive to Dauphin Island. 

To maximize your enjoyment of the festival, ensure you have sufficient time to travel between events. Outings and workshops are in the mornings and afternoons, but because start/finish times vary, the gap between your events for travel and lunch will vary. Most (not all) events are a) clustered at/near Dauphin Island in southern Mobile County; b) at/near the lower delta (at the top of the bay) between Mobile and Spanish Fort/Daphne; c) at/near Gulf Shores/Orange Beach in southern Baldwin County; and d) at/near Fort Morgan in southern Baldwin Co. Travel times between these areas vary, so plan accordingly.

The best way to find the most current information (if the ferry is running or not, launch times, pricing) is on the ferry Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/mobilebayferry/). You can also visit the Mobile Bay Ferry webpage for more information.

The Mobile Bay Ferry is an efficient and fun way to hop between Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island. The ferry ride between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan is 40 minutes (versus the alternative-a 135-minute drive around the bay). Be sure to account for wait and disembarking time when planning. The ferry can accommodate 28 vehicles per trip. It is a first-come-first-serve situation. Neither reservations nor advanced ticket sales are available. Space can be limited so plan to arrive well before launch time.

Pedestrians (with or without bicycles) are $6 for the entire day (as many rides as you want). Pricing varies according to vehicle size and number of passengers, but one regular car plus 2 passengers is $27 one way. Cash and major credit/debit cards accepted. The ferry runs weather and maintenance permitting, and the schedule is subject to change. The first Dauphin Island departure is at 8:00 AM, then every 90 minutes until 6:30 PM. The first Fort Morgan departure is 8:45 AM, then every 90 minutes until 7:15 PM.

Check the Facebook page for the latest schedule and pricing.

We suggest you stay near to the events you will be attending, especially events early in the morning or late in the day. 

Alabama Audubon has partnered with a number of hotels to offer discounts – please see the Lodging page on the Coastal BirdFest website for pricing information and direct links to these hotel offers. 

There are abundant hotels and short-term rentals (e.g., AirBnB) in the area that vary in rates and amenities. Generally, these are clustered at Dauphin Island, Downtown Mobile, along the I-10 Corridor, the “Eastern Shore” cities (Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope); Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, and along Fort Morgan Road. Cabins are available at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores and Historic Blakeley State Park in Spanish Fort. 

Public campgrounds provide various forms of camping (RV, tent, etc.) including Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Meaher State Park in Spanish Fort, Historic Blakely State Park in Spanish Fort, and Dauphin Island Campground on Dauphin Island. There are numerous private campgrounds in Mobile and Baldwin counties. We suggest that you make reservations far in advance of your visit.

Detailed information about the terrain and accessibility considerations specific to each trip can be found in the Full Trip Details PDF. A quick guide for accessibility considerations is located on the Events Page for each trip using a color coded system outlined below. If you have additional questions about accessibility, please send us an email: info@alaudubon.org

🟢 Low - Outings generally take place on relatively level terrain with paved or firm surfaces, minimal elevation changes, few physical obstacles, and usually involve shorter distances than other events. See the full event description for details and contact staff with any questions or specific concerns.

🟡 Moderate - Outings will involve some combination of the following: uneven terrain, unpaved surfaces, loose or soft sand or ground, change in elevation, and moderate distances relative to our other events. See the full event description for details and contact staff with any questions or specific concerns.

🔴 High - Outings will involve a substantial degree of one or more of the following: challenging or uneven terrain, unpaved surfaces, loose or soft sand or ground, multiple or steep elevation changes, and/or other significant physical demands, and longer travel distances relative to our other events. See the full event description for details, and contact staff with any questions or specific concerns.

Yes! All events are open to everyone, regardless of their knowledge or experience with birds and birding. We even have a few events that are specifically designed for those who are newer to 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.

Late April is the peak of bird migration on the northern Gulf Coast in both numbers and diversity of species. Transient neotropical migrants are passing through in peak numbers, southeastern neotropical breeders are establishing summer territories, and shorebird migration is nearing its peak. There are always neotropical migrants to see – even on slow days (and slow days do happen). Every few years there is a spring “fall out” where trans-gulf migrant birds encounter difficult flying conditions and drop onto the first land they reach, including Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan. While these are difficult occasions for exhausted birds, fallouts provide astonishing opportunities for birders to witness high numbers of birds and species at close range.

The weather changes frequently along the Gulf Coast in April, so be prepared for a variety of conditions. Checking the forecast 24-48 hours in advance is advised. Chilly, 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, and have an outer layer that offers some wind resistance, especially if you are on a boat or in open conditions (e.g., beach).

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. We can loan binoculars to guests for an event, but please notify us at least 1 week in advance of your event (info@alaudubon.org).

We are excited to bring experienced birding guides from the local area and across the Southeast. Your guide(s) will be listed on the Full Event Details PDF, and information about most of them will be provided on our website. These assignments are subject to change as guide availability changes due to unforeseen events. Guide assignments are published in stages after registration launches, so check the Full Event Details PDF periodically for this information.

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

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