Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis (1 Viewer)

Kevin Purcell · Jul 16, 2009

On July 15 2009 by the USFWS released Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis

A copy of the PDF can be downloaded here:

http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/birding_natsurvey06.pdf

For 2006 data they estimate expenditure on Wildlife-watching equipment to be $6,869,054,000.

They define Wildlife-watching equipment as: "Equipment expenditures consist of binoculars, cameras, bird food, nest boxes, day packs, and other wildlife-watching equipment."

They say there are 47,693,000 birdwatchers in the USA defined pretty much as anyone who pays attention to birds. For people who travel away from home to see birds they say there are 19,860,000 people. Make of that what you will.

So average equipment expenditure per birdwatcher is 6869 million / 47.693 million or about $144 per year.

Interesting ballpark figure for estimating how much people spend on bins (or spotting scopes and backpacks and cameras and bird food) per year.

KC Foggin · Jul 16, 2009

Well, I can unhappily say I was a part of that expenditure and the grand I just kicked out today probably isn't in that count.

Tero · Jul 16, 2009

?
OK, what did you get, new scope?

Lisa W · Jul 16, 2009

I was definitely part of that expenditure - much to my partner's dismay.
Yeah, KC, what did you get?

joannec · Jul 16, 2009

Interesting that 54% of American birders as defined in this study are female.

Pileatus · Jul 16, 2009

joannec said:
Interesting that 54% of American birders as defined in this study are female.

In the US, women increasingly outnumber men past the age of 35.

ThoLa · Jul 16, 2009

John Traynor said:
In the US, women increasingly outnumber men past the age of 35.

Germans are said to go extinct. Could you send me a collection of photos of US women (preferably less than 35 :gh

: we might offer speeded immigration.

FrankD · Jul 17, 2009

Well stick me at the far end of that bell-shaped curve.

jurek · Jul 17, 2009

Interesting - birders in Europe are usualy male and 15-30 years old.

There was even a joke about female birder and guinea pig.

rivergazer · Jul 17, 2009

jurek said:
Interesting - birders in Europe are usualy male and 15-30 years old.

?????!!!!!! what??!! do you not have playstations and cell phone texting over there? shocking

jurek · Jul 17, 2009

We have birding rings texting messages about rarieties to each other.

rivergazer · Jul 17, 2009

thumbs up for the kids!!

Enji · Jul 17, 2009

Huh... I find most birders in Sweden to be male and 40+. I usually feel very odd as a woman of 27...

Don't want to think about how much money I've spent on equipment though, but on the other hand... a good scope can last for 20+ years.

HoosierGuy · Jul 17, 2009

I've spent some money this year on bird watching: feeder - $39, binos - $320, another bino - $370, books - 80, iTouch bird apps - $70, plus bird food. Oh, a safari vest ans safari shirt to look cool with my binos - $85 total.

Tero · Jul 17, 2009

books - 80

Obviously you do not have enough books yet. Do you have the one on the gulls yet?

[I do not have it either. Yet.]

I have a fishing shirt. Same as safari shirt I guess. And green pants. Must have green pants. No camo.

clschmalz · Jul 18, 2009

And don't forget the Tilley hat !

statestat · Jul 18, 2009

Very interesting information. Surprised that they did not include numbers for Washington D.C., where many people claim to have seen the federal-eagle money bird who was rumored to poop on Fridays. Maybe now it has become more of a bird of prey.

HoosierGuy · Jul 19, 2009

Tero said:
I have a fishing shirt. Same as safari shirt I guess. And green pants. Must have green pants. No camo.

As long as you look cool. That's all that matters!

spyglass · Jul 20, 2009

....$144.00....per YEAR?!....that survey couldn't have included all the US posters on this website. Now if you move the decimal pt over a place......2 binos in the last 12mo, along with a Maxpledition over-the-shoulder tote, and I still need a new NG Birds of NA (am waiting, tho, as taxonomy is supposedly changing, and that will make old and current versions...obselescent at least)....and will also now need to get green trou and a Tilley hat (like in Jennifer Tilley? Does she deliver the hat...and maybe go along on a bird outing to the deep woods to make sure the hat is satisfactory?).

But seriously folks, 6B+ is one helluva lotta scopes/spyglasses and birdfood/feeders......

T%

Bosque · Jul 29, 2009

It probably didn't include all the US posters here, but even all of us aren't spending that much on birding (I'm easily under their $144 per year line). I know plenty of the anomaly under 30 pawn shop binocular nomadic bird work crowd that might have a $20 pair of binoculars and a couple of field guides.

Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis (1 Viewer)

Well-known member

Very, very long time member

Retired

I really need to get out and bird more

Well-known member

"Experientia Docet”

Registered User

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Retired

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Djoo c it? Wut wuzit?

Well-known member

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread