EXPERIENCE

AOS

Birding in NW Florida and in Coastal Alabama is very similar.  But Alabama has one advantage—Dauphin Island is far enough to the west to be on the edge of the Mississippi flyway.  It is internationally known as an excellent birding spot during migration.

For this reason many Pensacola birders have become members of the Alabama Ornithological Society which has two week-end long meetings on Dauphin Island each year.  They meet there in April and October, and have a winter meeting in several birding locations around Alabama.

The spring and fall meetings begin on Friday morning with a mainland field trip led by the Keynote Speaker in tandem with AOS Field Trip Chairman Andrew Haffenden, a well-known international nature guide who lives on Dauphin Island.

This is followed on Friday night by a Potluck Supper and a Birding Workshop led by the Keynote Speaker.  On Saturday morning several field trips offer opportunities to bird with the Keynote Speaker, Andrew Haffenden, and other experienced Alabama birders.  This also gives the new members a chance to visit all the good birding locations on the island.

On Saturday evening, there is a banquet followed by a presentation from the Keynote Speaker, a “famous” birder or bird book author or a professor of ornithology who has new finding to present. The Keynote Speaker for the Spring, 2017 meeting, is Kevin Karlson, co-author of The Shorebird Guide and Birding By Impression.

It is a great time to learn some new facts about birds and birding.  On Sunday morning, there are more field trips and then, at noon, compilation of all the species seen or heard before heading for home.

Now why am I recommending this Alabama organization to Florida birders?  I learn a lot from experienced birders and AOS gives me the opportunity to observe techniques of good birders. There are many “secret” places on Dauphin Island that are known only to those Alabama birders who have been coming to the AOS meeting for years.  Many have been leading field trips.  They know where the birds are.

This year’s spring meeting at Dauphin Island is April 21-23. Go to their website, www.aosbirds.org and you will find the registration packet.

Don’t miss this great birding event.

By Peggy Baker