Discovering

Teacher’s Guide Dauphin Island Synopsis Suggested Curriculum Areas History auphin Island is unique among barrier islands because of its special Social Studies natural qualities and its special role in the history of America. The Environmental Studies Disland has a diversity of natural habitats including marshlands, forests, and lakes, and it was an attraction for many early European explorers, including the Spanish, the French, and the English. Suggested Grade Levels This video highlights both the natural and human history of Dauphin 4 –12 Island in the context of geological forces that continuously affect barrier is- lands. By looking at environmental changes occurring to the island from mod- ern growth and development, the video poses the question of how to manage such activities for the island’s future. Key Concepts Conservation Habitat Mobile Natural Heritage • Mississippi Florida

Key Skills Alabama Alabama Research

Analysis Critical Thinking Isle aux Herbes

Dauphin Island • Fort Morgan Petit Bois Island

Discovering Alabama is a production of the Alabama Museum of Natural History in cooperation with Alabama Public Television. For a complete list of titles in the Discovering Alabama series, as well as for information about ordering videos and accompanying Teacher’s Guides, contact us at either: Discovering Alabama, Box 870340, Tuscaloosa AL 35487–0340; phone: 205–348–2036; fax: 205–348–4219; or email: [email protected]. Also visit our website: www.discoveringalabama.org. This program was produced with support from the following organizations:

Printed on recycled paper #21 Dauphin Island © Doug Phillips, 1998; revised 2004 Before Viewing 2. Compare the characteristics of Philosophical Reflections Dauphin Island to those of other Using globes or world maps, have Barrier islands are particularly affected 1. barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. the students pick one or more Discuss changes to the island from hu- by wind, water, and various forces of islands they believe might fit their im- man activities in modern times. continuous geological change, remind- age of an “island paradise.” When they ing us of the old saying, “The one thing have made their selections, have them Extensions that never changes is that things are al- work to determine the hemisphere, lon- ways changing.” Does this saying also gitude, latitude, and probable natural 1. Arrange for your class to partici- apply to natural features other than bar- features of their chosen islands. pate in one of the educational rier islands? Does it apply to such as- 2. List their island selections on the programs conducted on the island by pects of life as cultural norms, beliefs, blackboard. Discuss the defining the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (see Addi- and values? Are there some matters characteristics of barrier islands in con- tional References and Resources). about which you believe this saying does trast to other kinds of islands. Ask the 2. Watch the Discovering Alabama not apply? students to examine their maps and videos “Mobile-Tensaw Delta” identify those islands among the list that and “Coastal Alabama, Parts I & II” to might be barrier islands. determine which animals and plant spe- 3. Have students imagine themselves cies require coastal estuaries to aboard the ship of a seafaring support their life cycles. adventurer of ancient times, perhaps an 3. Establish a bird feeding early Spanish explorer attempting to sail station outside your classroom, around the world in search of new lands. preferably within view of a window. Use Ask them to imagine how they might the list of migrating birds provided feel when, after being at sea for months, on the back of this guide to keep they encounter an exotic island and pre- count of how many species visit pare to go ashore. Introduce the video your feeder during the fall and by explaining that this Alabama island spring semester. Many of these was the subject of similar discoveries birds will be of the same prior to the founding of our nation. species that also stop over on Dauphin Island during While Viewing annual migration. Invite the class to research and Have students watch for the various chart the geographic natural features and habitats present on route of the migratory Dauphin Island and the number of dif- journey of visiting birds. ferent nations and cultures that have inhabited the island over time. Video Mystery Question: Ancient visitors to Dauphin Island found it at a place different from its present location. Why? (Answer: As the video explains, over many centuries, the precise size and location of the island has shifted as a consequence of tidal flow, hurricanes, and other forces of nature.)

After Viewing

1. Discuss the video and list the stu- dents’ observations pertaining to the “While Viewing” assignment. Discovering Alabama Nature in Art of Environmental Management To create a detailed map of the Dau- (ADEM), or other water resource spe- phin Island area, put together the fol- Beaches, seascapes, and similar scenes cialists, and ask their assistance in lowing maps: “Heron Bay,” “Little Dau- have always been popular subjects for understanding the cumulative effect of phin Island,” “Fort Morgan,” “Fort drawing, painting, and photography. such discharge to coastal estuaries. Morgan Northwest,” “Petit Bois Pass,” Artists often find inspiration from these and “Isle aux Herbes,” all available from settings and portray in their art such Complementary Aids the Geological Survey of Alabama, Box themes as the wonder of life and the and Activities 869999, Tuscaloosa AL 35486–9999. mysteries of time and change. These themes are particularly evident in the 1. Use a map to track the move- nature of barrier islands. An easy assign- ment of hurricanes in the west- Parting Thoughts ment is to have students explore their ern Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the school, their home, or other local Gulf of Mexico. Contact the Alabama America’s coastal areas are experiencing sources to locate similar artwork. Or, Museum of Natural History and ask a rapid increase in population growth you might prefer to have students draw, for Ephemera #45. and all manner of related development. In many places, this growth has resulted paint, or photograph their own coastal, 2. The location of storm centers is river, or lake scenes. Collect and display available from CNN and The in significant impact to the environ- a number of such works and interpret Weather Channel, but this information ment, threatening fisheries or other re- the artists’ renderings. originates from the National Oceano- sources from which traditional econo- graphic and Atmospheric Administra- mies, life-styles, and values are derived. Community Connections tion (NOAA). On the Internet, look at Is such induced environmental change www.noaa.gov and www.websites.noaa.gov an unavoidable side effect of the pursuit of our free enterprise system? Or is it an 1. Dauphin Island was one of the for lots of weather goodies. (Some of first parts of Alabama to be these web sites are not active except example of harmful change that a free settled by European adventurers: first during hurricane season—June society should take care to control? The came the Spanish, then the French and through November.) answer we choose will determine the fu- ture of Alabama’s coastal area. And our English. Thus many place names 3. Check out the following web- around Dauphin Island and Mobile are page devoted to waterfowl habi- answer will ultimately shape one of two of European origin. Conduct a study of tat areas and recent activities to reduce scenarios: our gulf coast will either your community to determine if there the trend of wetland loss: www.fws.gov/ maintain its unique natural qualities, are place names (or perhaps family r9nawwo. or it will become just one more crowded, names) that are traceable to early Euro- garish commercial strip devoid of the pean settlement at Dauphin Island or Additional References natural qualities that, today, set it apart Mobile. as distinctively attractive. and Resources Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The Dau- 2. Most of the water that flows from inland Alabama eventually The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a great phin Island Sea Lab is a research and reaches the bays and estuaries near Mo- place to visit. It has an exhibit hall as educational facility recognized as a bile and Dauphin Island. This is because well as the Estuarium, which features model for the nation. The fine facilities most Alabama communities are within the Living Marsh Boardwalk. For in- and excellent staff are a wonderful asset the large watershed (roughly three-quar- formation, contact: Dauphin Island that increases our pride in Alabama. If ters of Alabama’s surface) that drains to Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin you cannot arrange a visit to Dauphin the Gulf of Mexico by way of rivers that Island AL 36528, 334–861–2141. Island Sea Lab, at least contact them for flow to Mobile Bay. Obtain topographi- Check the lab’s website: www.disl.org. information to use with your class. cal maps of your area and locate major streams near your community. In accor- Books: Alabama Birds by Thomas A. Happy outings, dance with the Community Right-to- Imhof, Press, Know Act, ask local industries and agen- 1976; Field Guide to the Birds of East- cies to provide you with data on the ern and Central by Roger kinds and quantities of waste materials Tory Peterson, Houghton Mifflin, discharged into these streams. Share this 1985; and National Geographic’s Field information with the Dauphin Island Guide to the Birds of North America. Sea Lab, with the Alabama Department Discovering Alabama Act signed by the United States and cattle egret, Mississippi kite, and the Canada. Periodically, this treaty has Baltimore oriole return each spring been amended so as to identify spe- dressed in their breeding colors. cific birds that are now endangered. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act went Endangered & Nongame Birds beyond simply restricting the killing There are a small number of birds of birds and also forbade the taking of on the endangered list: wood stork, nests, eggs, or feathers. American bald eagle, piping plover, Discovering This legislation and cooperation and the red-cockaded woodpecker. between Canada and the U.S. was fur- Alabama’s Nongame Species Alabama ther strengthened when in 1936, Regulation, number 220–2–.92 Mexico entered into a similar agree- states: It shall be unlawful to take, ment, thus the whole of North capture, kill, or attempt to take, cap- Activity/Information Sheet America was covered by the treaties. ture or kill; possess, sell, trade for anything of monetary value or of- Dauphin Island Some Migratory Birds fer to sell or trade for anything of Many Alabamians would be amazed monetary value, the following non- at the beautiful birds that live or mi- game wildlife species (or any parts Migratory Birds grate through their state. Nearly 400 or reproductive products of such Three hundred years ago, there were species of birds live in Alabama or species) without a scientific collec- four times as many known bird species spend some time of the year here. tion permit or written permit from as now exist. The historical demise of Some live the year around, some just the Commissioner, Department of incalculable numbers of birds can be pass through, and some spend the win- Conservation and Natural Re- linked to a number of environmental ter here. Ask the children if they can sources, which shall specifically state effects due to our expanding industrial guess why some of the birds listed be- what the permittee may do with re- society. Today, conservationists are low are in more than one category. gard to said species. Birds on this warning us that continuing effects of These birds live in Alabama all nongame list include: global warming and the deforestation year and are resident birds: gray cat- of the tropical rain forests of the conti- bird, American robin, red-tailed hawk, Mississippi sandhill crane nents of Central and South America cardinal, blue jay, pine warbler, mourn- Common ground dove will soon lead to further loss of winter ing dove, and wood duck. American bald eagle homes for North America’s migrating These birds live and breed up Golden eagle birds. north and fly south to Alabama to Reddish egret In the past decade or two, the num- spend the winter. They are nonresi- Peregrine falcon ber of songbirds has dramatically de- dent birds: gray catbird, American Cooper’s hawk creased, and it is becoming increasingly robin, yellow-bellied sapsucker, gold- Merlin difficult to spot the scarlet tanager and finch, white-throated sparrow, ring- Osprey the rose-breasted grosbeak. Likewise, necked duck, and the harrier, or marsh American oystercatcher warblers of all kinds are also vanishing hawk. American white pelican at an alarming rate. Each fall, the following birds, Piping plover But changes in the environment called Neotropical migrants, fly south Snowy plover haven’t been the only problem. Until from the Alabama coast to the New Wilson’s plover 1918, there was a significant problem World tropics. The gray catbird, ruby- Wood stork with the hunting and killing of migra- throated hummingbird, wood thrush, Gull-billed tern tory birds, especially songbirds. On July scarlet tanager, prothonotary warbler, Bachman’s warbler 3rd of that year, this activity was re- Red-cockaded woodpecker stricted by the Migratory Bird Treaty Bewick’s wren