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What can "birding economics" bring to Oregon communities?
In 2001 ….
Nearly 22 million people, or 10% of the U.S. population, watched wildlife away from home; over 18 million of these people watched birds.
Over 5.8 million people left their home state specifically to watch birds.
These 22 million wildlife watchers took a total of over 230 million trips averaging 2 days in length, and they spent over $8 billion on trip-related expenses.
Oregon hosted nearly 1.7 million wildlife watchers, 509,000 of whom
were non-residents. These Oregon visitors spent over $300 million
in the state on trip-related expenses, ranking Oregon fifth in the
nation. |
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U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 2005 |
| In a 1994-1995 survey comparing the growth of 10 different recreational activities in the U.S., birding was the fastest growing at 155% annually. Downhill skiing showed 59% growth and golf 29%. Fishing and hunting were shrinking at -4% and -12% respectively. |
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U.S.
Dept. of the Interior, 1996 |
| Between now and 2050, the only major outdoor pastime that will grow faster than the national population is birding. |
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Newsweek,
June 1997 |
| In a 1990 survey, twice as many vacationers preferred to watch birds than play golf. |
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Fortune,
1991 |
| Oregon currently boasts 487 bird species, ranking the state fifth among all North American states and provinces. |
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American
Birding Association, 2002 |
| From June 1993 to May 1994, nearly 40,000 birders visited Eastern Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and they contributed over $3 million to the local community. |
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Kerlinger,
1994 |
| As pressure on our natural landscapes increases, degrading and compromising habitats along migratory bird pathways, birding trails are becoming increasingly more valuable to migrating and resident bird populations. |
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William
Shepard, Birding, October 2001 |
The above information was compiled by Community Solutions for the American Bird Conservancy and the Oregon Birding Trails Working Group.
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