Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Dauphin Island – West End

Parking: Park at the public beach parking area.

Transect start: On the bay side of the island, at the parking area (30.250346o N, -88.192335o W). Then walk west along the bay (north) side of the peninsula. Return east along the ocean (south) side of the peninsula.

Transect end: 0.7 mi from the start, which is about as far as one can walk (30.250794o N, -88.203669o W).

¼ mile reference: The width of the island is 0.15 miles wide at the start. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Dauphin Island – Pelican Island

Parking: Public beach parking lot.

Transect start: At the base of the dunes under the boardwalk next to the parking area (30.248298 N, -88.126166o W).

Transect end: 1.0 south of the start point (30.235845o N, -88.119889o W). Use a GPS or map to find this location if this is your first or second time covering the route.

¼ mile reference: From the edge of the parking lot, end of the boardwalk is about 0.2 miles. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Dauphin Island – Pelican Point

Parking: Parking lot at the end of Bienville Blvd.

Transect start: At the NW corner of the parking lot (30.246601o N, -88.076322o W).

Transect end: 1.0 miles west of the parking lot, at the first house (30.244095o N, -88.091522o W).

¼ mile reference: From the parking lot, the last rock breakwater is just under 0.25 miles. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Bon Secour NWR Fort Morgan Unit

Parking: Along the un-named road that leads to the beach just east of the Fort Morgan Historical Site.

Transect start: At the end of the un-named road that leads to the beach (see map; 30.224789o N, -88.009487o W).

Transect end: 1.0 miles west the start, where the peninsula curves to the north (30.225720o N, -88.027831o W).

¼ mile reference: The length of the un-named road is just over 0.25 miles. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Bon Secour NWR Perdue Unit

Parking: Drive to the end of Mobile St. (becomes Petty Ln.)

Transect start: At the parking lot at the southern end of Petty Ln. (30.229042o N, -87.831319o W).

Transect end: 1.8 mi east of the parking lot, where the beach meets the subdivision at the western end of AL-182 (30.230696o N, -87.801233o W).

¼ mile reference: Desota Ave to the waterline is just under ¼ mile.

Note: This transect has been initially identified as a 1.8-mile route, but we can work with volunteers to make this a 1 mile route if that is more desirable. If parking is possible at the end of AL-182 (although I think this is a private subdivision), the route could start here, which would allow for coverage of the best Snowy Plover nesting habitat. If the route is 1 mile and starts at Petty Ln., then the best Snowy Plover nesting habitat would not get surveyed. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Gulf State Park Beach

Parking: At the Gulf State Park Beach jetty.

Transect start: On the beach at the Gulf State Park jetty (30.248836o N, -87.667723o W).

Transect end: 1 mile east of the start point at the next parking area (30.254067o N, -87.644130o W).

¼ mile reference: The jetty is about ¼ miles long.

Note: Better names for the start and end points would be helpful. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Orange Beach

Parking: At the parking lot along AL-182 (Perdido Beach Blvd.) just east of AL-162 (Orange Beach Blvd.)

Transect start: At the eastern end of the parking lot (30.269541o N, -87.581704o W).

Transect end: 1 mile east of the start point at the rock wall (30.272423o N, -87.559742o W).

¼ mile reference: The jetty just east of the parking lot extends 0.15 miles out from the houses. The parking lot is 0.10 miles long. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Fairhope Public Beach

Parking: At the parking lot at the end of Fairhope Ave (which turns into Beach Rd. at the end).

Transect start: At the northern end of the parking lot (30.524303o N, -87.911633 o W).

Transect end: 0.5 miles north of the parking lot (30.530916o N, -87.908456o W).

¼ mile reference: The jetty is ¼ miles long. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

May Day Park

Parking: End of College Ave near Daphne.

Transect start: At the northern end of the parking lot (30.599720o N, -87.913851o W).

Transect end: 1 mile north of the park’s pier (30.612135o N, -87.913007o W).

¼ mile reference: The pilings to the WSW are about 0.2 miles from the beach. Audubon Coastal Bird Survey Sites - Alabama

Daphne Bay Front Park

Parking: End of Bel Air Dr. near Daphne

Transect start: At the parking lot, scan the water and sand flats, then walk south through the forest (30.630078o N, -87.918480o W).

Transect end: 1 mile south of the park’s pier (30.617761o N, -87.913625o W), across from Laurel Lane. No good landmarks are known, so bring a GPS and help us identify a useful end point.

¼ mile reference: The next visible pier to the north is about 0.3 miles.