Have a news release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying that
a new economic report based on the scientific nationwide survey
conducted in 2001 discloses that, among some statistics, 66 million
Americans spent more than $38 BILLION in 2001 observing, photgraphing
and feeding wildlife. For each $1 of direct spending associated in
wildlife watching, an additional $1.49 of economic activity was
generated. total industrial as $95.8 BILLION which resulted in 1,027,833
full and partime jobs were created and total wages and salaries was
$27.8 BILLION. These figures just take in the fact that people only just
casually observing wildlife were not including.

A new economic report found that 46 million serious birdwatchers across
this nation spent $32 BILLION in 2001 pursuing one of the Nations most
popular form of outdoor activity. And that about 1 out of 5 Americans
are birders, and they contribute very greatly to our economy.

Another news release deals with the National Wildlife Refuges Generate
Jobs, Sales Revenue For Communities. This concerns the millions of
dollars which a number of communities gain from being near a number of
wildlife refuges.

As an aside: These are but a few statistics and not includied in all
these economic figures is the immeasurable good that birds contribute in
consuming billions of tree and crop destroying and disease carrying
insects and arthropods annually. Rice leaf miners, spruce budworms, tent
caterpillars, etc.. Ouch! Damned mosquitoes!

So, let's not look at things in our little world and in a myopic way,
but on the large scale. Birders are not exactly a tiny minority.

Sources: Birding in the United States: a Demographic and Econmoic
Analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2001 National and State Economic Impacts of Wildlife
Watching Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
..
2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife
Associated Recreation. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service .. .
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration and
U.S. Bureau of Census

Eugene Kridler
Ye Olde Broken Down USFWS Wildlife Biologist/Administrator/Endangered
Species Coordinator
Squirm-er-Sequim,WA