Background
For centuries before Europeans landed on Dauphin Island, Indians enjoyed
the bounteous supply of shellfish and seafood, many being drawn from
further north by the readily available supply of food. The Spanish
explorer Pinada was the first documented European to visit the island in
1519 staying long enough to map the area with remarkable accuracy. The
modern history of Dauphin Island really began when the French explorer
Le Moyne d'Iberville landed on the Island in 1699, beginning the first
permanent settlement. The island briefly served as the
capital of the French Louisiana Territory in the early 1700s and passed
into British hands in 1766 only to be taken by the Spanish in 1780 while
the British were preoccupied with the Revolutionary war. U.S. forces
captured the island in 1813 to prevent the British from using it in the
War of 1812. Ft Gaines was begun in 1821, completed in 1848, occupied by
Confederate forces in 1861 and taken by Federal troops as part of the
Battle of Mobile Bay. Although the first Post Office was
opened in 1896, the island remained largely isolated from the mainland
accessible only by boat until the middle of this century.
In 1953 developers organized an ambitious plan to build a bridge across
the Mississippi Sound to connect the Island with Alabama Port. They could
only get the bridge if they could demonstrate a need... by selling
sufficient residential lots on the island. With the help of the Mobile
Chamber of Commerce the plans were advanced. 1800 lots were offered for
sale and all were taken by noon of the first day of sale, assuring the
bridge, which was opened to the public in 1955.
The Audubon Bird Sanctuary Part of the development of the Island was the
construction of a golf course near the eastern end of the island. A series
of problems arose with this site, however, and a different site was chosen. That's when Dr.
Wilson M. Gaillard, an avid birder and conservationist stepped in and
persuaded all concerned to make the original golf course area into a bird
sanctuary. Approximately 164 acres were set aside as the Audubon Bird
Sanctuary. It was watched over largely by the Mobile Bird Club and
interested individuals.
As the years passed, however, the attractiveness of this property for
further development suggested that additional protection was needed. The
property legally belonged to the Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board. In
1967, largely due to the efforts of Dr. Gaillard, the National Audubon
Society leased the Sanctuary from The Park and Beach Board and made it a
part of their national system of wildlife sanctuaries.
Formation of the Friends Responsibility for the Sanctuary was returned to
local control in 1992.
With the help and support of the Alabama Audubon Council the Friends of
the Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary was created as a non-profit
corporation. The Council provided the initial financial support necessary
for the Friends to assume their new responsibilities. The Friends have
Joined with the Dauphin Island Sealab to provide maintenance and to
develop a management plan for the Sanctuary.
The purpose of the Friends is to preserve, protect, maintain, and further
improve the Sanctuary, engage in research and study towards a better
understanding of all wildlife, birds in particular and to promote public
knowledge of and appreciation for the importance of birds and all other
wildlife.