Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary, Bird sanctuary in Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary is a protected natural area on an island in Alabama that contains maritime forest, wetlands, and marshes connected by pathways. The site features a walking trail and a wooden boardwalk where visitors can view a lake from an elevated platform.

The sanctuary was founded in 1961, the year listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, after the island passed from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to the Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board. In 1967 an agreement with the National Audubon Society made it part of the national system of Audubon wildlife sanctuaries. Its three-mile trail system was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2012.

The sanctuary plays an important role in bird watching and education, drawing people who want to observe and study wildlife. Visitors come to see rare species and experience nature firsthand on the island.

Visitors can walk marked trails and use the wooden boardwalk to explore the different habitats and watch birds. It is best to bring binoculars and visit in the early morning or evening when birds are most active.

Dauphin Island is often the first land birds reach after crossing the Gulf of Mexico, and 420 of Alabama's 445 documented bird species have been recorded on the island. The sanctuary's three-mile trail system was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2012.