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    Audubon Bird Sanctuary

    4.7 (27 reviews)

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    Danny

    Not very kid friendly; "danger alligator" signs throughout, didn't see very many birds, but a lot of turtles in the swamps. It's July, and the humidity and heat about killed us. Lots of loops. Come prepared!

    Wetlands sign
    Lucy T.

    I came here with my friend Mackenzie. It was pretty cool. They have lots of maps and walking trails to help guide you through the sanctuary. There is an alligator supposedly in the Wetlands. I thought I would see a lot more birds here, but we really only saw one I think. It was still a great place for a nature hike, and we ended up finding a beach as well which was a neat surprise. You should definitely bring bug spray! We got bit by mosquitos, so come prepared!

    Nancy C.

    Love this place. It has been a few years since I was here last and I am so happy it hasn't. Changed. Saw many turtles. An eagle and lots of birds. Even strolled on the beach a bit and enjoyed the trails. One of my most favorite place on the island!

    I think they call this Alligator Lake. We did not stray from the viewing platform.
    John H.

    We hauled our bikes to Dauphin Island, and found the bike path that runs alongside and parallel to Bienville Blvd. adequate for morning rides. It's asphalt, and a bit bumpy where tree roots have created a washboard effect. Riding into Audubon Bird Sanctuary, we found a sign posted not to ride on the trail. We used the bike rack to secure our bikes, and took a hike. There are portions that are boardwalk that seem accessible by wheelchair, with a viewing platform over the lake, and another on the high point of a modest dune from which you can look out over the bay. We saw plenty of plants and trees that were marked with name and description, and some turtles, but not that many birds (coming during "migration season" probably would be better). Still, a pleasant family activity that gets everyone outside and into nature. Thanks, ABS.

    Sand dollar found on beach by Audubon bird sanctuary
    Jen G.

    Really lovely place to walk with the family after a day of the beach. Bald eagles were nesting & I saw a sandpiper for my first time in a while. My daughter even found a sand dollar.

    David C.

    This is one of my favorite places in the South. Located on Dauphin Island, a barrier island connected to the Alabama coast by bridge, the Audubon Bird Sanctuary is just a little over 30 minutes from downtown Mobile, AL. There is no admission, but there are hours with the parking lot closing at sunset. There is no camping allowed. The sanctuary is close to the east end of Dauphin Island, just before the Mobile Bay Ferry toll booth. Look close or you will miss it. When turning in, be cautious of the bike/walking path that will be crossed before going through the gate. There is single entrance lane and a separate exit lane, so be careful. Parking is a dirt/shell parking area. While quite small, people often park under in and around the trees on the east side of the parking area. There is a beach at the south end of the trails. You can walk for miles through a piney savannah, wetlands, beach dunes and around several lakes that do have gators, so beware. At the western beach trail head there is a nice platform at the top of the dunes with a bench and a wonderful view of the Gulf of Mexico. On clear days you can see the Sand Island Lighthouse. Closer to the platform there is an aerie with ospreys in the spring and sometimes eagles in the fall and winter. The natural beach can be dangerous. There are no life guards and no flags to warn of dangerous conditions or sea life. Swim with care and at your own risk. We pick up small shells and every now and then you can find a sand dollar. You will almost always see egrets, herons, and gulls around the beach and ponds. We have seen beautiful wild flowers throughout the Sanctuary. A couple things to remember. There are no restrooms, water fountains, vending or shelters in the park. It is truly a natural area. There are trash receptacles in the parking areas and at the beach trail heads. Make sure you pack your trash back out from the trails. Bring plenty of water to prevent dehydration as in the summer heat and humidity can be deadly. Enjoy the beautiful area but remember that the park closes at sunset and your vehicle may get locked in. Be sure to not get caught up in the beautiful sunsets too long before heading back to the parking lot.

    Andrea S.

    Awesome place for a walk or hike. There is some litter, and there are no trashcans. If you follow the trails, they will lead you to both a small lake with alligators or a path to the beach. The beach was very clean, beautiful views.

    Katrina N.

    Oh so recommend!!!! They have handicap spaces but they are limited so plan accordingly. The Lake Loop trail is a mixture of boardwalk and nature trail. We took the boardwalk to the lake overview and got lots of great pictures from there, mostly of turtles. We then left the boardwalk and were able to take the nature trail. The trails are compacted enough to where a wheelchair can roll on them. You will have to watch for some really sandy spots and roots, but other than that my husband, in a wheelchair, was able to enjoy the sights of the trail and take some nice pics. When the trail looped towards the beach and we took the boardwalk up and over to the dune trail observation point we saw an Osprey in their nest. Got a great pic of a shrimp boat in the water. Finished the trail around to the boardwalk and got back to the parking area. One thing I enjoyed was that there were benches at random areas around the trail, that for folks like me, can take rest breaks and sit without being in the way and could be in the shade. Definitely will be back.

    Roxanne B.

    Free nature walk, I recommend staying on the boardwalk unless you have lots of time to walk the paths. Once the boardwalk ends you have to figure out where to go on your own, may a compass would be helpful. Did see a alligator and lots of turtles. Great time.

    Sunset
    Cathy W.

    We were in Dauphin Island for a long weekend and visited the bird sanctuary every day for a walk. It is beautiful -- with varied environments -- marsh, pond, forest, dunes and beach. We saw turtles, the alligator, osprey, a great blue heron and a white crane. The boardwalk and trails are well-maintained.

    Bird Check List
    Richard F.

    If you like birds this is where you should visit. The peak times to see them are late March to mid April and again Oct. and Nov. when they are migrating through. We visited in early May and there were very few Migrants there however, if we would have been there very early in the morning we probably would have seen a few. The weather was mild and there were zero bugs so it was a most enjoyable way to spend a few hours walking the easy level boardwalk. There is a small lake with a deck and if you bring some crackers you can feed the turtles. Part of the trail will also take you out to the dunes area where you can see a few shore birds flying. Audubon does some great work nationally so give them a donation sometime if you can. They will appreciate it.

    Jonathan M.

    This place is beautiful! It's truly a walk through sanctuary that is filled with great natural wildlife and sights! We saw an alligator as well as many fish, frogs and birds! The trail map does need slight updating, at one point we ran into a dead end which wasn't listed on the map we came across. Overall such a wonderful experience and definitely a place to see if on Dauphin Island!

    Lisa M.

    The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is perfect for taking a break from the beach. The walking trails provide excellent shade from the Alabama sun. Lots of beautiful landscape to take in while walking the clearly defined trails. We didn't see any alligators during our visit, but the turtles didn't disappoint. ** Tip: make sure to bring some bread to feed the turtles from the Gaillard Lake viewing deck

    Entrance to the sanctuary.

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    7 years ago

    Great place to walk and see the diversity of the areas. They have lots of signage warning of alligators, unfortunately we didn't see any.

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    Ask the Community - Audubon Bird Sanctuary

    Can you ride bikes on the trail?

    June, 2022. We rode bikes TO the bird sanctuary. There was a sign NOT to ride bikes on its trails. A reasonably nice bike rack at the parking area allowed us to lock our bikes while walking.

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    Review Highlights - Audubon Bird Sanctuary

    We took the boardwalk to the lake overview and got lots of great pictures from there, mostly of turtles.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Audubon Bird Sanctuary - parks - Updated July 2026

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