Hello Tweets,

Thank you for your patience and thank you for all the responses: 82 total!

As you may remember, the Ross's Gull was first spotted on Thursday,
December 15th and reported to Tweeters on Tuesday, December 20th. It was
last seen a week later on Tuesday December 27th.

Here are the responses I received:

- *95% of respondents *traveled to this region specifically to see the
Ross's Gull *(58% went to only see the bird, 37% made an extended trip
out of it. 5% were already in the area or planning to go to the area).*
- The average distance traveled by respondents was *501 miles* *(round
trip)*.
- The average group size of respondents was *2.3 people*.
- The date when most respondents tried for the gull was *morning of
Friday, December 23rd *and the average respondent stayed at Palmer Lake
just *under* *3 hours **(2:52).*
- Number of people survey represents: 191.
- Total number of birdwatchers present at Palmer Lake over period
(12/19-12/29 - *estimated by respondents)*: *382*.
- Average amount of money spent on the trip:* $56.66 per person* *(which
could include gas, food, lodging, and souvenirs).*
- Total *estimated* amount of money spent: *$21,644**.

* Many specified that most of their money was spent on gas, which wouldn't
necessarily be in the immediate local economy. This was calculated by
multiplying *[Total Estimate of Birdwatchers Present at Palmer Lake]
*by*[Average $ Spent per Person]
*. I am not a statistician nor have I ever done an economic impact
analysis; I am sure there are more robust ways to complete this analysis.
This is my back of the napkin calculation.
*
*
*
*
*Points of Origin Captured* *(from survey and second hand reports from
respondents)*:

- *British Columbia:* Burnaby; Chilliwack; Delta; Kelowna; Langley;
Nelson; Okanagan; Oliver; Penticton; Surrey; Vancouver; Vernon.
- *Washington State: *Acme; Auburn; Battle Ground; Bellevue; Bellingham;
Bothell; Brewster; Bridgeport; Cle Elum; Colville; Edmonds; Enumclaw;
Everett; Federal Way; Issaquah; Kirkland; Lake Forest Park; Leavenworth;
Longview; Lyman; Lynnwood; Mercer Island; Moses Lake; Okanogan; Olympia;
Omak; Poulsbo; Puyallup; Quilcene; Redmond; Renton; Richland; Rosedale;
Seattle; Spokane; Stanwood; Sunnyside; Tacoma; Tonasket; Tri-cities;
Vancouver; Walla Walla; Wenatchee; Winthrop; Woodinville; Yakima.

- *Oregon:* Astoria; Portland.
- *Other Points of Origin:* Arizona (Tucson); Calgary; California
(Sacramento); Colorado; Indiana (Fort Wayne); Missouri (already visiting
WA); Montana (Missoula); Utah (already visiting WA).



Ideally, these data would be combined with the sign-in book at the Loomis
General Store and Tweeters messsages, but overall I am pleased with the
number of responses. It would be ideal to run these data through the
formula that was used to calculate the economic impact of the Olympia
Redwing, which if memory serves was around $80,000-$100,000; an old WOS
newsletter states that 1,500 people saw this bird over 42 days (too bad the
gull didn't stick around that long).

I think it would be important to set up a process where data like these can
be captured for every noteworthy "twitchable" rare bird (think: 2004-2005
Baikal Teal or 2010 Lesser Sand-Plover). Otherwise the economic importance
of our hobby is more anecdotal, and thus harder to sell should an
opportunity arise where we need to show that we aren't just a bunch of
weirdos ... or at least that we are bunch of weirdos who *spend money*.

In the meantime, try to wear your binoculars when you go into any local
establishment (e.g. restaurant, gift shop, gas station) on your next
birding trip. Decades ago, Thero North from Seattle Audubon used to leave
custom business cards wherever she spent money (typically restaurants) that
said "*I am in this area and visiting your establishment because I am on a
birdwatching trip.*"

Adam


-------

Adam Sedgley
S e a t t l e, WA
sedge.thrasher [at] gmail [dot] com
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