crispycreme
Well-known member
This is from the current issue of Birder's World which was culled from a report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
There's no link to the actual report, so we have to take Birder's World at their word. I am skeptical though, given that virtually every other report out there that I can find indicates that interest in the pastime is increasing, not decreasing.
(edit to fix formatting)
Fewer Birders
There are fewer of us. So says a new report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The number of birdwatchers decreased between 1991 and 2001, according to "Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis," published in August. In 1991, the report says, 51.3 million Americans observed birds around their homes, and in 1996 that number dropped to 42.2 million people. In 2001, the number of backyard birdwatchers fell further, to 40.3 million people. The economic clout of birders is significant, however. American birders spent $32 billion on optics, travel, and other expenses in 2001.
There are fewer of us. So says a new report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The number of birdwatchers decreased between 1991 and 2001, according to "Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis," published in August. In 1991, the report says, 51.3 million Americans observed birds around their homes, and in 1996 that number dropped to 42.2 million people. In 2001, the number of backyard birdwatchers fell further, to 40.3 million people. The economic clout of birders is significant, however. American birders spent $32 billion on optics, travel, and other expenses in 2001.
There's no link to the actual report, so we have to take Birder's World at their word. I am skeptical though, given that virtually every other report out there that I can find indicates that interest in the pastime is increasing, not decreasing.
(edit to fix formatting)
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