A new study finds the economic impact of birders is significant. Birdwatchers spend billions of dollars across the nation. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Transcript
A new study finds the economic impact of birders is significant. Bird watchers spend billions of
dollars across the nation. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Bird watching might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about dollars spent
on outdoor recreational activities. But, because so many people birdwatch – 46-million – the
economic impact is substantial.
According to a first-of-its-kind report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2001 bird
watchers spent 32-billion dollars on gear such as binoculars, travel, food and big-ticket items such
as canoes, cabins and off-road vehicles – all to watch birds. The government says that generates
85-billion dollars in overall economic output.
In determining who was actually a birdwatcher, the report did not count people visiting zoos or
those who just noticed birds while visiting the beach. To be considered a birdwatcher in the
economic report, only people who took a trip for the purpose of watching birds or those who
closely observe or try to identify birds around their house were counted.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, this is Lester Graham.