How to Support Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries Through Donations or Membership

Updated

You can support Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS) in two documented ways: donate online through PayPal, or mail a check to DIBS, PO Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528. Either way, DIBS asks that you email [email protected] with the details of your donation — whether it is a memorial, an honorarium, a membership, a Giving Tuesday gift, or an end-of-year donation. The mailing option is presented as the way to avoid fees, so if you want the full amount to reach the organization, a check is the stated alternative.

What DIBS Is and Why Support Matters

DIBS — Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. — is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been preserving the island's natural environment since 1992. Its mission is to provide habitat suitable for resident and migratory birds.

The stated benefits of that work extend beyond birds:

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

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

Ways to Give

Option How it works What to do next
Online donation Made through PayPal Email [email protected] with your donation details
Check by mail Avoids fees, per DIBS Mail to DIBS, PO Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Membership Listed as a donation category Include membership details in your email to DIBS
Memorial or honorarium Listed as a donation category Email DIBS with the memorial or honorarium details
Giving Tuesday or end-of-year Listed as a donation category Email DIBS specifying the campaign

The site does not publish membership tiers, dollar amounts, or a separate membership form, so the practical path is to state your intent by email and let DIBS confirm the details.

What to Include in Your Email

DIBS specifically asks donors to provide "the details of your donation." Based on the categories the site lists, a useful message covers:

  1. Donation type — memorial, honorarium, membership, Giving Tuesday, end-of-year, or a specific donation.
  2. Amount and method — online via PayPal or check by mail.
  3. Names — for a memorial or honorarium, the person being remembered or honored, and who should be notified if applicable.
  4. Your contact information — so DIBS can acknowledge the gift.

If you mail a check, sending the email as well helps DIBS match the payment to your intent, since the check alone may not carry the memorial or membership details.

Other Ways to Engage Beyond Giving

DIBS also invites people to participate in its spring and fall bird-related activities and to visit the properties it protects. If you want to see what your support maintains before or after donating, these are the documented sites and trails:

  • 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

The site also links to a 2026 Summer Newsletter, which is the place to check for current activities and updates.

Quick Checklist

  • Decide whether you are giving online (PayPal) or by check (avoids fees).
  • Choose your category: general donation, memorial, honorarium, membership, Giving Tuesday, or end-of-year.
  • Email [email protected] with the details.
  • If mailing, send your check to DIBS, PO Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528.
  • Optionally, plan a visit to a DIBS property or join a spring or fall bird activity.