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It's hard to believe, but 62.9 million U.S. residents, almost one-third
of the population 16 years and older, watched wildlife and spent $29.2 billion
doing it, according to a 1996 U.S. National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. An estimated 60.8 million did
their watching around home while 23.7 million traveled (at a cost of $9.4
billion) with the primary objective of watching wildlife. What this means
is that while all these people were out watching birds and bunnies, somebody
else was watching them. Only kidding.
These wildlife watchers spent $8.2 billion on binoculars, film, bird food and special clothing. "Special clothing" means anything you buy from an L. L. Bean or Lands End catalog, including those fishing vests made by sewing 834 various-size pockets together. The study also says that these people spent $7.6 billion on special equipment including off-road vehicles (ORV), trail bikes and boats. I have a hard time believing that more than about eight people go out and anti-up big bucks for an ORV just so they can watch birds. Maybe a few guys told their wives they were buying an ORV so "the family" could watch birds, but we know most guys were buying them so they could drive to the 7-11 for a soda during a 12-foot snow. At the same time, the study tells us there were "3.1 million migratory bird hunters" at work. I didn't write this. Really. These are bird hunters who migrate while hunting for birds, which is why they, more than the bird watchers, need good ORVs. Indeed, they spent $720 million on equipment including $503 million on guns and ammo, $82 million on camping equipment (you have to sleep when you migrate), and $135 million on their vans and trial bikes. Anyway, the wildlife watchers shelled out $395 million on magazines and books, which adds up to a lot of trees that the birds used to live in. They also spent $862 million on membership dues and contributions, $1.3 billion on land leasing, and $537 million on plantings. Who leases land to watch birds? Probably somebody with an ORV. Of the 60.8 million people who watch wildlife at home, 86 percent (52.2 million) feed birds and 73 percent (44.1 million) watch them, which suggests that 13 percent feed the birds and then forget to see what happens. Personally, I could tell you that I feed birds but I'd be fibbing. At any given moment, squirrels are hanging off my three feeders and no birds are in sight. I'm a squirrel watcher, so I guess I fall into the 32 percent, according to the survey, who "feed other wildlife." Thirteen percent of Go To Page: 1 2 |
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