While Kim's post BWIAB figures for economic impact are FAR GREATER than the scientific survey done by Professor Phillip Xie from Bowling Green State University, the bottom line is clear--------birders do make an economic impact to the communities that they visit. In addition it is always great when folks want to give something back to an area that they love. Magee Marsh and Ottawa NWR are public lands that belong to the people. Supporting these areas helps to ensure their future. Happy Birding Mary L. Warren Wildlife Communications Specialist Magee Marsh Wildlife Area 13229 W. State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449 419-898-0960 #31 FAX: 419-898-4017 [log in to unmask] Keep the WILD in Ohio, learn how you can help @ wildohiostamp.com "I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." John Burroughs -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim Kaufman Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 1:35 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Birding Business = Support for Habitat Conservation Re: The earlier post on Birds=$: Great news about the economic impact study set to be released. Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) consulted with Professor Philip Xie / Bowling Green State University on the project, so we're eager to hear the findings. Ecotourism, or more specifically "bird-tourism", has become a major part of BSBO's conservation efforts over the last few years. BSBO's primary goal for the birding festival we host in spring is to generate support for habitat conservation. Objectives include: 1) Quantifying the number of birders visiting the area 2) Collecting travel and economic impact data from visiting birders 3) Presenting these findings at meetings, conferences, et cetera Of course, we focus first on ensuring a quality experience for participants; we want them to have a great time so that they want to come back! We're also doing our best to showcase all of the other birding areas in this region besides the Magee Marsh Boardwalk. Yes, everyone should tread those bodacious birding boards at least once while they're here, but we want people to know that there are many other great places to go birding in addition to Magee. As we spread birders out through the region, they're introduced to all of the great businesses in the area, and crowding on the boardwalk is reduced. BSBO has put together a conservation business plan related to bird-tourism. Components include: 1) Providing quality birder services to bring birders to us: free birding area maps (made possible through generous funding from ODOW), migration updates through multiple websites, Facebook and Twitter updates, and travel information and discounts through our Black Swamp Birds and Business Alliance. 2) Distributing "birder calling cards," and encouraging birders to leave them at local business. (Not an original concept, but one BSBO has used effectively!) 3) Our Black Swamp Birds and Business Alliance markets participating businesses to birders around the world. The Alliance creates a powerful network through which we can communicate to our business partners about ways to provide quality services for birders. The Alliance also allows us to educate businesses about conservation-minded practices and products such as serving Bird-friendly coffee, NOT using Styrofoam containers, and so on. 4) Collecting travel and economic impact data from visiting birders 5) Presenting this data to community leaders, local, state, and federal politicians-and anyone else who will listen. In 2010, BSBO collected post-event economic impact data from participants in The Biggest Week In American Birding. Using visitor data collected by Ohio Division of Wildlife into Magee Marsh WA for roughly a one-month period between mid-April and mid-May, we estimate that birders spent more than $19 million dollars in this area between mid-April and mid-May. In 2011, visitation climbed significantly. Our data reflected visitors stayed longer in the region and subsequently spent more, increasing that figure for the same time period to just under $24 million dollars. I cannot over-emphasize the effectiveness of leveraging bird-related business to generate interest in birds and habitat conservation! We're working closely with Black Swamp Conservancy (BSC is a NW Ohio landtrust that's conserved more than 10,000 acres!) to get this information in front of some of the people who need to hear it the most. Last spring, at the peak of bird AND birder migration, BSC Executive Director Kevin Joyce and I hosted a "marsh tour" and invited two bus-loads of politicians, community leaders, business folks, and wildlife agency representatives to go out birding with us. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur attended, and we had her on the Magee Boardwalk for nearly two hours! Her aide said she'd rarely seen anything that had captivated the Congresswoman so thoroughly. Since then, birds and bird-related business has become part of the Congresswoman's standard "bragging rights" about NW Ohio! How cool is that?! Birds and birding have become a big deal for this region. I was recently elected to my second term as President of the Ottawa County Visitors' Bureau Board of Directors: a clear indication that the business community in this area recognizes the importance of this resource to the area economy. Businesses are opening earlier in the season, expanding their hours, hiring more people. Together with our partners at the visitors' bureaus, chambers of commerce, wildlife agencies, and Black Swamp Conservancy, we've essentially built a tourism season where there hadn't been much happening. And in the end, all of those bird-tourists may be the most effective "weapon" we have in our bird conservation arsenal. Sorry for the long post, but I thought it was worth sharing! BIRDS RULE! Kimberly Kaufman Executive Director Black Swamp Bird Observatory 13551 West State Route 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 419-898-4070 www.bsbobird.org <http://www.bsbobird.org/> www.ohioyoungbirders.org <http://www.ohioyoungbirders.org/> www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com <http://www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/> Become a fan of BSBO and Ohio Young Birders Club on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BSBOBIRD www.facebook.com/OHIOYOUNGBIRDERS <http://www.faceboo.com/OHIOYOUNGBIRDERS> Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BSBOBIRD BSBO is proud to sponsor <http://www.facebook.com/groups/BirdingOhio/> ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]