Eugene Kridler wrote:

> Some things I didn't include yesterday from the l996 Survey, USFWS News
> Releases, and personal views:
> Category
>
> National Washington State
> People participating 62.9 million
> 1.62l million
> Total expenditures $29.2 billion
> $875.3 million
> Total industry output $85.4 billion
> $1.45 billion
> Employment l,0l0,000 jobs
> 21,454 jobs
> Employment income $426.9 billion $24.2
> billion
> Sales tax revenue $56.9 billion
> $1.04 million
>
> Wildlife watchers 62.9 million
> 1.62l million
>
> Spectator sports watchers 73.8 million
> ?
>
> Not included in the Survey was the amount of money brought into nearby
> communities by over 100 birding festivals.
> Also those areas near Federal and State wildlife refuges. Some examples:
> $l4.4 million to McAllen, Texas by the Santa Ana N.W. Refuge visitors.
> The $9.7 million to Chincoteague, Va. by the Chincoteague N.W.R.
>
> Also is the great economic value of birds which annually consume
> billions of of harmful insects and arthropods which destroy agricultural
> grain and vegetable crops, fruits, defoliate forest and shade trees and
> landscape plants and transmit plant and animal diseases, including some
> human diseases. Mosquitoes and flies for instance.
>
> American Birding Association had an item in their publication that
> according to a survey by the Forbes Magazine more people relaxed by
> watching birds than participating in hiking, tennis, skiing and (gasp!)
> golfing.
>
> All I'm trying to point out that wildlife watchers have great economic
> clout if they would use it and not sit on their keisters.
>
> But everybody to their own tastes said the man as he kissed the cow.
>
> Eugene Kridler, Squirm - er - Sequim, Wa.