Subject: Re: Wildlife Watching Statistics
Date: Nov 2 20:56:52 1998
From: Raymond Korpi - rkorpi at csci.clark.edu


On Mon, 2 Nov 1998, Eugene Kridler wrote:
> So what does the Tulip Festival Statistician base his
> figures on?

I think that the point made by the "tulip Festival Statistician" has some
validity. It does interpret what I've seen of the data correctly in that
wildlife viewing does include buying of seed, buying of garden materials,
and other enhancements that the casual birdwatcher might make. This isn't
necessarily the same as dollars that a birder alone brings into some area.

There are some places like High Island, Texas, and Patagonia, Arizona,
that are significantly impacted by birding dollars. But the scenario that
was laid out in both cases--the tulip family and the birder visiting the
flats hold some merit. I've been in BOTH situations in visiting the
Skagit area, and I tend to be a bit more frugal when I am out birding by
myself than when I was with my wife and visiting the tulips. There are
more social amenities and trips to outlet malls and antique stores that
are involved with the latter activity than the former, though my diet
caffeinated beverage consumption is probably picking up some of the slack
as well. When I bird by myself or with a group intent on birding, I tend
to pack more lunches, gas up earlier and cheaper than touristy pump
prices, and not have as many ancillary trips to the other sorts of stores.
The nature of my trip is much different, and in looking at local events
like the Tulip Festival, the impact of the local economy is going to be
skewed toward these big spectacular events, not a big spectacular flock of
Snow Geese.

There is no doubt that a LOT of people spend a LOT of money on materials
and equipment to enhance the wildlife in their neighborhoods. But, the
figures change somewhat when you start analyzing these versus both events
like the Tulip Festival (which are designed to draw people in) and money
spent by birders on birding activities, not just general wildlife figures.
I have a fishing pole too, and occasionally drown a worm or two, but my
outlay is not significant, just as the outlay of someone who buys a bag or
two of seed for their apartment feeder is not significant.

The Platte River Valley Chambers of Commerce are one example of a group
who have really capitalized on a natural event to bring dollars in. These
people know birders want to see spectacular flocks of cranes, and they
cater to them--someone ought to tell some of the Skagit Flats people about
the money being made in Nebraska, especially given the wanted birds seen
there every year.

RK
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Ray Korpi "The three golden rules are,--never drink
Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA before breakfast, never drink alone, and
rkorpi at csci.clark.edu never drink bad liquor."
President, Oregon Field --Elliott Coues,
Ornithologists _A_Key_to_North_American_Birds_ (1890)
**Inquiries on Oregon birds
always welcome**