BirdFest To Return In 2026 With New Host

Alabama Coastal BirdFest, a fall tradition for Gulf Coast birders, will now be hosted by Alabama Audubon, the state’s leading bird conservation nonprofit, Gulf Coast Media reported. The transition comes as South Alabama Land Trust (SALT), which launched the festival in 2004, refocuses its mission on land conservation. SALT has protected more than 12,000 acres of sensitive habitat across coastal Alabama since its founding in 1990, including creek, river and bay shorelines vital to the region’s wildlife and water quality. Alabama Audubon has connected people with birds and nature through conservation, education, science and advocacy since 1946. The organization expanded its programming to the Gulf Coast in 2017 and has since built strong ties with coastal communities and environmental partners. It says the next iteration of BirdFest will take place in spring 2026.