The local birdos can arrange (better) access to the STP now, so it is most
definitely not just for us. We see the value in it as an ecotourism and public
environmental education facility.
The proposed cost is ~$250K - there's a lot of earthworks and disabled access,
a loo etc involved. Even with the design 're-engineered' to reduce the costs,
a $200K cost produces a facility that might support a conservative 50? people
per year to 'stay another day' around Dubbo to birdwatch. At, say, $200 per
night into the community (accommodation, food, petrol) that's $10K per year. It
pays for itself in 20 years minus maintenance costs, which would be relatively
minor I'd consider.
We (Field Nats) are also chasing sponsorship opportunities from the local
community, which so far has yielded very promising results!
For those interested in the Dubbo saga, it is to be tested tonight (!) at the
Dubbo Council Works and Services Committee meet. The business paper can be
found here with a lot of info in it:
http://www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=49578
Regards
Tim Hosking
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Shute
Sent: Monday, 20 July 2009 10:59 AM
To: Hosking Tim; Birding Aus
Subject: Birding economics
I guess there's no economic benefit if only locals use it. How hard would it
be for a visitor to access the proposed hide?
There is the same problem with maintaining hides once they're built. Hides may
have been in use for decades without anyone ever collecting any evidence that
they have ever been used. Some have log books, but these aren't practical
everywhere - they'd just provide kindling for the vandals.
Peter Shute
________________________________________
From: On
Behalf Of Tim Hosking
Sent: Monday, 20 July 2009 9:08 AM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: Birding economics
I'd be very interested in any Australian-based bird tourism economic stats,
particularly inland NSW - the Field Nats here in Dubbo are about to present
information to Council to fight for a bird hide at the Dubbo STP as proposed by
Council engineering staff.
We're in for a good fight, I think, as the councillors don't see any 'value' in
such a (self-sustaining, low maintenance) facility.
Regards
Tim Hosking, Dubbo
-----Original Message-----
From: Denise Goodfellow
Sent: Sunday, 19 July 2009 5:06 PM
To: Alan McBride; Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge
Cc: Birding Aus
Subject: Birding economics
Dear Alan
I've been aware of such statistics for a long time, which is why I tried so
hard to get the NT government to take the market seriously.
In 2006, 23 million Americans stayed away from home overnight for the
purposes of watching birds.
In my experience these people tend to do more than just feed birds. But it
does take some digging to find how knowledgeable they are. And women, the
majority of American birdwatchers, may understate their level of knowledge.
My PhD is on American birdwatchers who travel internationally. I hope to
release preliminary results in a couple of weeks.
Denise
on 19/7/09 2:36 PM, Alan McBride at wrote:
> Keith et al,
>
> These would be great figures and the document for all of us to send to
> councils for birding activities, opening of Sewage Ponds, etc.
>
> Simply search Google (or whatever) for articles on this story and send
> off to all (non)-interested parties:-)
>
> Glad it helps.
>
> Alan
>
>
>
> On 20/07/2009, at 14:59 , Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge wrote:
>
> Thanks for those links Alan. We are trying to convince the local
> tourist authorities of the value of birdwatching so these articles are
> great!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Lindsay & Keith,
>
> Keith & Lindsay Fisher
> Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge
> RN 6 Mt. Kooyong Road
> Julatten QLD 4871
> Ph : (07) 4094 1263
> Fax : (07) 4094 1466
> Web Site: www.birdwatchers.com.au
> Blog: http://kingfisherparkbirdwatchers.blogspot.com/
>
>
> Alan McBride wrote:
>> Amazing numbers: can't imagine what Britain's numbers are like:-)
>>
>> May be just useful too to fight the "gun lobby"!
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/kj5eno
>>
>>
>> BIRDWATCHERS: THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!
>> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determines 1 in 5 Americans are
>> birdwatchers
>>
>> Look to your left. Look to your right. Now prepare yourself, because
>> there's a solid chance that one of those people is<gasp<a
>> birdwatcher! According to a study conducted by the U.S. Fish and
>> Wildlife Service, 1 in 5 Americans participates in birdwatching.
>> That's 20 percent of the population, or about 48 million people.
>>
>> Which is shocking, because I've never met even one birdwatcher in my
>> life. By here they exist, a silent but powerful lobby with the cash
>> to push their avian agenda into the mainstream: The USFWS reports
>> that birdwatchers contribute over $36 billion (billion!) to the U.S.
>> economy. They're not going anywhere, either<the birdwatching
>> percentage of the population has remained steady over the last ten
>> years, despite the introduction of multiple alternatives to
>> birdwatching.
>>
>>
>>
>> *****************************************************************************
>> ******
>> Alan McBride, MBO.
>>
>> Photojournalist | Traveller | Writer | Birding Guide +
>> Member: International Travel Writers & Photographers Alliance
>> American Writers & Artists Inc.
>> Travelwriters.com
>>
>> http://web.me.com/amcbride1
>> http://www.worldreviewer.com/member/alanmcbride/
>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmcbride
>> http://www.twitter.com/alanmcbride
>>
>> Good planets are hard to find; until we do, please, be green and
>> read from the screen
>>
>> Tel: + 61 419 414 860
>> Fax: + 61 2 9973 2306
>> Skype: mcbird101
>>
>> P O Box 190 | Newport Beach | NSW 2106 | Australia
>>
>> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it, are confidential and
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>> ******
>
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