Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  Orange Beach Parks and Recreation is offering residents a chance to learn more about the birds that live along the Gulf Coast. The city's Adult Learning Lab is hosting a class, Coastal Wings & Waves, designed to make bird identification fun and easy. The class is open to adults and will be held at the Orange Beach Community Center. Participants will leave with practical skills they can use in their own backyards and around town.

The class is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Orange Beach Community Center as part of the ongoing Adult Learning Lab series. The one-hour session will be interactive and hands-on.

During the class, participants will learn to identify local birds by sight and sound. The instructor will also highlight the best birdwatching spots in the area. Attendees will receive tips for creating a bird-friendly backyard at home.

The class will also introduce participants to free bird-identification apps, including Merlin and eBird. These apps are available on smartphones and make it easier to identify birds in the field. Using these apps, residents can log sightings and contribute to larger birdwatching databases.

Beyond identification, the class will cover simple ways residents can help protect coastal wildlife. Coastal birds face many threats, and small actions at home can make a difference. The session aims to connect people with the natural environment just outside their doors.

Those interested in attending can register online at orangebeach.activityreg.com. Once on the site, go to the "Community Programs" section to find the class and sign up. More information about the Adult Learning Lab and other programs is also available there.