Habitat conservation attracts birds
which, in turn, attract large throngs of
birdwatchers who pump astounding
amounts of money into local and state
economies.
Birdwatching is a growing business.
The number of people who took trips
from home specifically to watch birds
has skyrocketed since 1980.
Consider These Facts
Sixty-three million people in theUnited
States watch and feed wild birds each
year. That is one out of every 3 adults!
A1990 survey by Fortune magazine
showed that twice as many vacationers
preferred to watch birds than play golf.
Birdwatching is most prevalent
between the ages of 30 and 70. Still, 1 in
5 adults between ages 16 and 29 say they
watch birds.
Birdwatching is one of America’s
favorite forms of outdoor recreation…
baseball notwithstanding! In fact, far
more adults (16 years of age and older)
in the United States birdwatch than
play baseball.
Bucks from Birds:
The Economics of Birdwatching
Bird-related recreation contributes
enormous sums of money to local
and state economies. Not only do
Americans spend more than $3.5
billion each year on bird seed, houses,
baths, and feeders, but nearly 18
million adults take trips annually for
the express purpose of watching birds.
On these trips, birdwatchers purchase
gasoline, food, camera film, souvenirs,
and other supplies. They rent hotel
rooms and cars. They eat at
restaurants, and buy airline and train
tickets. All told, $29 billion is pumped
into the economy each year by bird
and other wildlife watchers. In 1996,
when this information was collected,
these figures would have placed
bird-related recreation in the top 100
of the Fortune 500.
What impact does all of this have on
state economies? Birdwatchers spend
an average of $100 million in each
state which, in turn, directly supports
more than 200,000 jobs and generates
more than $1 billion in state and
federal taxes.
The Bottom Line
How Healthy Bird Populations
Contribute to a Healthy Economy
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Catch the
Migration
Sensation
International
Migratory Bird
Day is May 8th
Number of Birdwatching
Festivals in United States
Has Skyrocketed
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Tools of the Trade: Birdwatchers and
Other Wildlife Watchers Spend
Big Bucks Pursuing Their Hobby
Millions of Dollars Spent in 1996
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Binoculars Bird Bird ,Magazines,
Food ,Houses, Books
Feeders
Communities surrounding birdwatching
sites benefit the most. Here are a few
examples of the economic clout of
birdwatchers:
Chincoteague National Wildlife
Refuge, Virginia: Birdwatchers annually
spend nearly $10 million in the
surrounding communities.
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge,
Texas: Each year, birders in and around
the refuge pump $14 million into the
local economy.
Cape May, New Jersey: More than
100,000 birders visit this “hotspot”
annually, providing a cumulative impact
of nearly $10 million.
High Island, Texas: In 1992, more
than 6,000 birders visited this small
town and spent $2.5 million there while
watching birds.
Quivera National Wildlife Refuge,
Kansas: Nearly 18,000 birders visit this
remote refuge each year and provide
the small neighboring towns $600,000 in
retail sales.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge/
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Ohio:
200,000 people visit this Lake Erie
marsh to watch birds each year. Result:
$5.6 million in local revenues.
Platte River, Nebraska: Each year
80,000 visitors come to watch cranes and
enjoy the Crane Festival. Retail sales:
$15 million.
Ramsey Canyon, Arizona: The rare
bird species in this area attract 30,000
birders each year, generating $5 million
in revenues.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary,
Pennsylvania: 50,000 hawk watchers
generate nearly $4 million in local
economic activity each year.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife
Refuge, Texas: $4 million is spent in
nearby small coastal towns each year by
birdwatchers visiting this migration
“hotspot.”
Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge,
New Jersey: More than 100,000
birdwatchers spend $4 million per
year around this refuge.
For more information, contact:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Office of Migratory Bird Management
4401 N. Fairfax Drive
Suite 634
Arlington, VA 22203
703/358-1714
Retail Sales (millions of dollars) and Jobs Generated by People Watching and
Feeding Birds in Each State in 1991
AL 53.6 1,660
AK 121.3 2,760
AZ 128.4 3,800
AR 54.4 1,800
CA 622.6 16,200
CO 179.6 5,360
CT 55.6 1,320
DE 11.5 250
FL 477.0 13,900
GA 49.7 1,500
HI 66.5 2,200
ID 33.3 1,080
IL 131.7 3,760
IN 64.6 2,090
IA 30.4 990
KS 23.5 810
KY 57.5 1,840
LA 51.3 1,560
ME 64.8 2,140
MD 83.0 2,332
MA 124.4 3,450
MI 267.6 7,620
MN 97.5 2,910
MS 34.9 1,200
MO 165.0 5,120
MT 76.3 2,590
NE 23.1 800
NV 56.5 1,290
NH 57.0 1,590
NJ 87.5 2,310
NM 80.9 2,420
NY 219.0 4,610
NC 92.4 3,060
ND 6.6 220
OH 123.1 3,130
OK 55.3 1,340
OR 94.3 2,860
PA 256.4 6,040
RI 19.1 510
SC 51.6 1,720
SD 20.7 760
TN 76.2 2,380
TX 155.3 4,730
UT 57.0 1,820
VA 108.3 3,312
VT 22.7 660
WA 136.3 4,010
WV 26.6 730
WI 224.8 7,210
WY 62.2 2,090
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Millions of Americans Participating (16 Years of Age or Older)
Picknicking
Swimming
Fishing
Camping
Birdwatching
Jogging
Boating
Outdoor Concert
Golfing
Bicycling
Softball
Tennis
Water Skiing
Downhill Skiing
Baseball
Horseback Riding
Sailing
State Sales Jobs State Sales Jobs State Sales Jobs
Birdwatching Is One of America’s Favorite Pastimes
May 1999
