Economic values of bird-watching at Point Pelee National Park, Canada.

Abstract

Bird watching, or birding, is one of the fastest growing wildlife recreational activities in North America (Harrison 1979, Butler 1984) and involves 20-30 million people annually (More 1979, Lyons 1982, Shaw and Mangun 1984, Kellert 1985, Jacquemot and Filion 1987). In Canada, at least 13.1% of the population undertook special trips to observe, photograph, or study birds (Jacquemot and Filion 1987). Bird watching results in substantial economic expenditures, conservatively estimated to be > $20 billion each year in North America (U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. 1982, Filion et al. 1983). Although some researchers have examined the economic expenditures of nonconsumptive wildlife activities (Myres 1968, DeGraaf and Payne 1975), relatively few have focused on the economic contribution associated with bird watching itself (Horvath 1974, Stoll and Johnson 1984). The purpose of our study was to determine the net economic value of bird watching at Point Pelee National Park, Canada, and to assess the local economic impact of birders on the Point Pelee-Leamington district of Ontario. Preliminary assessments have revealed that the community of Leamington has made successful efforts to accommodate bird watchers during the spring season (Butler 1984, Butler and Fenton 1987).