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EnglishWhat Is the Mission of Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS)?
Updated
Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. (DIBS) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide habitat suitable for resident and migratory birds on Dauphin Island, Alabama. According to the organization, that core mission carries added benefits: preserving the island's maritime forest for erosion control, reducing hurricane wind force, filtering air pollutants to improve air quality, and maintaining the island's natural and aesthetic beauty. DIBS has been working on this since 1992.
The Mission in DIBS's Own Terms
The organization states its mission directly: to provide habitat suitable for resident and migratory birds, with added benefits such as:
- 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 connected advantages — habitat protection that also serves the wider island community. As the site puts it, these benefits are "important in the big scheme of protecting the island's unique habitat for all of Alabama's residents."
Why Habitat Protection Is the Center of the Mission
Dauphin Island sits on a major migratory route, and DIBS describes its work as preserving "the island's natural environment, vital for local and migratory bird species." The organization's focus is on keeping undeveloped landscape undeveloped — the maritime forest that migrating and resident birds depend on. That is why the mission is written around habitat rather than around a single species or a single reserve.
How DIBS Carries Out the Mission
Land and Trails
DIBS preserves and protects properties that are open for visitors to enjoy. The named properties and access points listed by DIBS are:
| Property | Access |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Activities and Membership
DIBS invites the public to learn more about its work, take part in spring and fall bird-related activities, and support habitat protection through membership and donations.
How to Support or Contact DIBS
- Email: [email protected] — use this to provide details of a donation (memorial, honorarium, membership, a specific Giving Tuesday donation, an end-of-year donation, and so on).
- Mail a check (to avoid fees): DIBS, PO Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528.
- Online giving: DIBS lists PayPal among its payment options.
Quick Answers
Is DIBS a government agency? No. It is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
When was it founded? DIBS says it has been preserving the island's natural environment since 1992.
Can visitors go to the properties? Yes — DIBS lists its properties and trails as places to visit and enjoy the natural beauty of Dauphin Island and its critical migratory bird habitat.
What does a donation support? The mission itself: habitat for resident and migratory birds, plus the maritime forest's erosion control, wind reduction, air filtration, and aesthetic value.