What Is Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS)?

Updated

Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. (DIBS) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting habitat on Dauphin Island, Alabama, for both resident and migratory birds. If you want to visit birding trails, learn about the island's maritime forest, or support habitat conservation through a membership or donation, DIBS is the organization behind those properties and activities.

What DIBS Does

DIBS has been preserving the island's natural environment — described as vital for local and migratory bird species — since 1992. Its stated mission is to provide habitat suitable for resident and migratory birds. According to the organization, that work carries added benefits for the island as a whole:

  • Preserving the island's maritime forest for erosion control
  • Providing natural and aesthetic beauty
  • Reducing hurricane wind force
  • Enhancing air quality by filtering air pollutants

DIBS frames these as part of protecting the island's unique habitat for all of Alabama's residents, not only for birds.

Properties and Trails You Can Visit

DIBS invites the public to enjoy the natural beauty of Dauphin Island and its critical migratory bird habitat. The organization lists these properties and trail access points:

Property Location
Winn Reserve Iberville Dr. by Shell Mounds
Sto's Woods Cadillac Ave. near Shell Mounds
Goat Tree Reserve Cadillac Ave. & Grant St.
Steiner Reserve Two accesses from Grant St. — opposite Conti Ave. or opposite Cadillac Ave.
Longfellow Reserve Longfellow Place

If your goal is simply to go birding on protected land, these are the named sites to start with. Access details are given by street, so you can plan a route between reserves on the island.

Activities and Ways to Get Involved

DIBS invites visitors and supporters to:

  • Learn more about what the organization does
  • Participate in its spring and fall bird-related activities
  • Help protect the undeveloped landscape of the island through membership and donations

The site also references a 2026 Summer Newsletter, which is the place to look for current activity details.

How to Donate or Join

DIBS accepts support through membership and donations, including memorials, honoraria, Giving Tuesday gifts, and end-of-year donations. Two payment routes are described:

  1. Online via PayPal — after donating, contact DIBS at [email protected] with the details of your donation (for example, whether it is a memorial, honorarium, membership, or a specific campaign gift).
  2. By check — to avoid fees, mail a check to: DIBS, PO Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528.

The email contact is also the way to supply donation details if you give through PayPal.

Who This Is For

DIBS is relevant to you if you are a birder planning a visit to Dauphin Island, a resident interested in the island's maritime forest and erosion control, or someone looking to support migratory bird habitat through a small nonprofit. Because it is an all-volunteer organization, membership and donations are the stated paths for helping protect the undeveloped landscape.