Hey Tweets,

We've talked about the monetary benefits of birding, so thought you'd be
interested in this. Check out the amount of money spent by wildlife
enthusiasts.

Peggi
>============================================================
> BILLIONS AND BILLIONS SPENT: WILDLIFE-RELATED
> RECREATION CONTINUES TO BE NATIONAL ECONOMIC FORCE
>
>Hunting, fishing, bird watching, and other wildlife-related
>recreation continued to be a powerful economic engine in 1996,
>with participants spending $96.9 billion in pursuit of these
>pastimes and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, according
>to preliminary data from the Nation's most comprehensive survey
>on this subject, conducted every 5 years by the U.S. Fish and
>Wildlife Service.
>
>This represents more than a 59-percent increase in expenditures
>since 1991, when the Service last conducted its National Survey
>of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Related Recreation, and
>accounts for about 1.3 percent of the Nation's gross domestic
>product, which measures the size of the economy.
>
>"The survey confirms again that it is impossible to separate the
>well-being of our Nation's wildlife and wildlife habitat from the
>health of our economy," said Acting Service Director John Rogers.
>"Our fish and wildlife are not just a priceless treasure we hand
>down from one generation to another, they are the source of jobs
>and growth for both the national and local economy from coast to
>coast."
>
>The survey, which is conducted for the Service by the U.S. Census
>Bureau, showed that the number of hunters and anglers 16 years
>and older stayed relatively constant during the past 5 years.
>There were 35.2 million anglers in 1996 compared with 35.6
>million in 1991. Likewise, there were 14 million hunters
>compared with 14.1 million in 1991. Overall, the number of
>anglers and hunters fell slightly to 39.7 million from 40 million
>in 1991.
>
>Total expenditures by anglers and hunters rose 69 percent during
>the 5-year period to $67.9 billion. Spending by anglers rose 47
>percent to $36.2 billion from $24.6 billion in 1991 while hunters
>spent $17.7 billion, up 75 percent from $10.1 billion in 1991.
>The remaining expenditures could be attributed to whether hunting
>or fishing.
>
>Meanwhile, the number of bird watchers, wildlife photographers,
>and other nonconsumptive participants 16 years and older dropped
>17 percent during the 5-year period to 63 million from 76 million
>in 1991. Even so, their expenditures rose 39 percent to $29
>billion.
>
>Twenty-four million Americans took trips for the specific purpose
>of observing, photographing, or feeding wildlife in 1996 while 61
>million enjoyed nonconsumptive wildlife-related recreation around
>their homes.
>
>In all, 18 percent of the population 16 and older fished during
>1996, 7 percent hunted, and 31 percent participated in
>nonconsumptive wildlife-related recreation, the study showed.
>
>"Millions of Americans have made hunting, fishing, birdwatching,
>and other wildlife-related recreation an important part of their
>lives," Rogers said. "This year's survey confirms that Americans
>have a national love affair with wild places and wild creatures."
>
>As part of the survey, the Census Bureau initially screened
>80,000 households. From this, the bureau chose 28,000 sportsmen
>and -women and 14,400 nonconsumptive participants 16 years and
>older for detailed surveys throughout the year.
>
>More complete preliminary data will be available this summer
>followed by a final national report in November. State-by-state
>reports will be released from November through March 1998.
>
>April 30, 1997 Hugh Vickery 202-208-1456
>
>
>
>============================================================
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>.-
>
>
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz 122 W, 37 N)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"