Dear all :)
For those of you who didn't know, Ted Eubanks, of the Audubon Society,
made a presentation this week on eco-tourism and the World Birding
Center planned somewhere for the lower Rio Grande Valley, a birding
sanctuary along the Texas-Mexico border. Migratory birds pass along
the flyway there to and from almost all areas of North and South
America.
The Audubon Society and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are
expected to decide on a specific location for the multi-million dollar
World Birding Center this summer.
Ted made some interesting observations about birding in the Rio Grande
Valley, which may be applicable to your area.
-26% of Winter Texans spend their time looking at nature and birds.
-70.2% of birders who visit Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge are
between 50 and 60 years of age.
-76.9% had attended college.
-49.5% had incomes above $50,000
-Santa Ana birders come from 49 states and six foregn countries.
-Only 3.9% of birders reside in the Rio Grande Valley;
28.4% come from elsewhere in Texas.
-Winter Texans spend $1.3 billion while visiting Texas.
-There are twice as many wildlife photographers as golfers nationwide.
and.......
-"Avid wildlife observers go to the [Rio Grande] Valley while casual
birders go to Nebraska."
One almost has the feeling that birders are a "silent majority."
Geri and Alfred Webre
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Geri & Alfred Webre Vancouver, BC
<mail to: >
Migratory Birds: < http://www.shadycoffee.com/birds/index.html>
A web e-zine preserving bird species and habitats, rain forests,
and women's community enterprises in shade grown coffee regions.
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