Dolphins, mother sea turtles, hummingbirds, and thousands of other creatures also use the sugar white sand and turquoise water of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area as their playground like millions of vacationing families do each year. Since its inception in 2007, the Nature Tourism Initiative and its representative Joanne McDonough - have worked to design and implement programs that arm nature tourism-orientated businesses with resources to promote species and habitat education, environmental stewardship and sustainability know-how. Each of the following programs could serve as a stand-alone article profiling the success of a niche area or combine the programs for a feature on this successful initiative:

• Dolphin SMART - a recognition program that protects wild dolphins through proper viewing practices.
• Monofilament Recycling - an effort to collect unwanted fishing lines at strategically placed receptacles in local marinas, fishing hotspots, and bait shops.
• Sea Turtle Lighting - a series of workshops educating the public about lights that work best for turtles and people.
• Business of Nature - a series of workshops to enhance an operator's understanding and practice of marketing, promotion and business strategies that will ultimately grow the business.
• Coastal Nature Guides - a certification program that promotes proper stewardship and increases knowledge of the surrounding environment.
• CFISH - coming soon.

Whether individually or as a group, all of these programs serve one mission - to promote sustainability for the natural resources and coastal economy through education of the nature tourism business who will lead by example for their clients. For more information, click here.

A bird in the hand is just another day in the office for the Hummer Bird Study Group (HBSG). However, the office for this non-profit group is a historical fort resting at the end of a sliver of white-sand surrounded by turquoise water. For two weeks in March and October, birding enthusiasts search for LBBs (little brown birds) and numerous other brightly colored specimens leads them to the annual bird banding at Fort Morgan. The next session is set for March 27 - April 8.

Begun in 1987 by Clay, Ala., residents Bob and Martha Sargent, this couple's savings originally funded the group's research expenses. Through the years, a non-profit organization developed, and the couple grew the membership to more than 2,000 people from 43 states and 5 countries. A profile of this couple would lead to a heart-warming story that personifies how a dedicated team of two can make a difference.

Contrasting this couple's maturity is a younger story line. Learn about Kyle's journey to becoming a bander at the tender age of 15. Introduced to his first banding eight years prior, Kyle said that "before we could make it to the banding tents, Bob Sargent walked up to me with a Gray Catbird in his hand and asked if I would like to release it. I did and was instantly hooked.” (continue reading)

Or approach this event from a scientific angle. The federal government requires hummingbird banders to hold a permit in more than 30 states. The HBSG trained a number of associate banders and ultimately this population holds a high percentage of all the permits in the world. Also, many of the HBSG's banders are authorized to band neotropical migrants and other songbirds.

For more information, visit the group's website or contact Kim Chapman for specific contact information.

Loggerhead and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles nest along our coastal beaches, hatching success has increased by 85% as a result of increased monitoring efforts by the volunteer program Share the Beach.

More than 400 species of shells can be found in the Gulf of Mexico.

Alabama's aquatic biodiversity is second to none with more species of freshwater fish, freshwater mussels, freshwater turtles, freshwater snails and crayfish than any other state.

To see additional nature tidbits that would be perfect for a sidebar article, click here.