Where Are the DIBS Properties and Trails on Dauphin Island?

Updated

Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS) maintains five named reserves on the island, and all of them are open for visitors to walk. The locations, as listed by DIBS, are:

Reserve Location
Winn Reserve Iberville Dr. by the Shell Mounds
Sto's Woods Cadillac Ave. near the 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

How to use these locations

Each entry above is a street-level access point rather than a street address, so the practical approach is to navigate to the named road or intersection and look for the reserve entrance there. Steiner Reserve is the one property with two separate entrances, both off Grant St., so you can enter from either side depending on where you are on the island.

DIBS describes these as properties with trails, so walking them is the intended use. The reserves protect the island's maritime forest, which DIBS notes also serves erosion control, reduces hurricane wind force, and filters air pollutants — reasons to stay on the trails rather than cut through the vegetation.

What the reserves are for

DIBS has been preserving this habitat since 1992 and is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its stated mission is to provide habitat suitable for resident and migratory birds while preserving the island's maritime forest. The spring and fall bird-related activities DIBS runs are tied to migration, so the reserves are most relevant to birders during those seasons.

If you want to support or contact DIBS

Membership and donations are handled directly. DIBS asks donors to email [email protected] with the details of a donation (memorial, honorarium, membership, Giving Tuesday, end-of-year, and similar). To avoid fees, you can instead mail a check to DIBS, PO Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528. PayPal appears as a payment option on the site.