Audubon Bird Sanctuary | |
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Location | Dauphin Island, Alabama |
Coordinates | 30°15′04″N 88°05′13″W / 30.251°N 88.087°W |
Area | 66.3684 ha (164.000 acres) |
Designation | National Recreation Trail (trail system) |
Operator | Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board |
The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary on the eastern side of Dauphin Island, Alabama, measuring 164 acres (66 ha). The island is an important stop for many bird migrations, as it is often the first land birds encounter when crossing the Gulf of Mexico. The island was dedicated as an Important Bird Area due to this fact.
The sanctuary itself, created in 1961, features a wide variety of landforms, including a freshwater lake, swamp, pine forest, and dunes. The trail system, spanning three miles, was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2012.