Lots of people enjoy watching birds.
Around 96 million residents of the United States “closely observed, fed or photographed birds” in 2022. That’s according to a new survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s more than double the total from a previous survey conducted in 2016.
Which means birdwatching is coming on fast and strong as a national pastime.
In fact, more than 35% of folks aged 16 and above are now considered birdwatchers.
And birding is big business. More than $250 billion was spent last year on such items as binoculars and bird food, a whopping $2,188 per person.
People are especially keen to see rare birds. When a Steller’s sea-eagle showed up on the New England coast in the winter of 2021-22, birders pumped more than $750,000 into the economies of Massachusetts and Maine. A rare flamingo drew thousands of folks to the Texas coast near Galveston not long ago.
So watching birds is big business. In fact, a big birding festival is coming this spring to our area — check out the Balcones Songbird Festival, set for April 26 - 27 of this year at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge in the Texas Hill Country. Golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos will be the star avian attractions.
But more than being big business, birdwatching is also just plain enjoyable. As I often say: Watching birds is really great/They flit, they fly, they fascinate.
