The 5th Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest is October 16-19, 2008!  Birders in the know flock to the South Alabama area, known as a primary stopover for migratory birds  winging their way to Central and South America for the winter.   The Alabama Coastal BirdFest is fast becoming one of the Southeast’s top ecotourism events.  All trips leave from the fabulous Five Rivers Delta Resource Center on the Causeway, which links the Eastern Shore of Baldwin County to Mobile.

One of the Alabama Coastal BirdFest’s top features this year is the Bird & Conservation Expo set for Saturday, October 18th in downtown Fairhope at the Fairhope Public Library and the Faulkner State Community College campus.  The Bird & Conservation Expo events are free and feature fun information on birdhouse building, kayaking, raptor demonstrations, Dr. Bob’s Traveling Snake Show and much, much more!

The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is  a well-known circuit which can be driven, allowing you to easily travel to where the dedicated birdwatchers go!  The various loops cover two counties:  Dauphin Island-Bayou La Batre Loop, East Mobile River-Tensaw Delta Loop, Eastern Shore-Mobile Bay Causeway-Blakeley Island Loop, South Baldwin County Loop, Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Loop and Fort Morgan Loop.   The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Mobile Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Don’t forget about the 2008 Fall Bird Banding Session running through October 17th at Fort Morgan!  Historic Fort Morgan, the stately eastern guardian of Mobile Bay, charges $5.00 admission for adults, $3.00 for kids ages 6-12, and the little ones get in free.  Few things top the magic of seeing the delicate hummingbird gently held in the human hand.  Don’t let your children miss this wonderful event!