In 2016, nearly 300,000 birders flocked to the state and spent about $378 million. Birdwatching supported roughly 4,300 jobs in Alaska that year.
From: University of Alaska Fairbanks
July 6, 2022 -- A
committed and lucky birdwatcher in Alaska may see an elusive bluethroat north
of the Brooks Range, catch a glimpse of the bold markings on a harlequin duck
as it zips along an Interior river, encounter all four species of eider in
Utqiaġvik, or take in the sounds of thousands of feeding shorebirds in the
Copper River Delta.
Thousands of
birdwatchers flock to Alaska each year, drawn by the chance to check rare and
hard-to-find species off a Big Year list. In doing so, they provide an often
overlooked boost to the economy and incentive for conserving habitat.
New research by the
University of Alaska Fairbanks and Audubon Alaska found that nearly 300,000
birders traveled to the state and spent about $378 million in 2016.
Birdwatching supported roughly 4,300 jobs in Alaska that year, a number similar
to the mining and telecommunications industries but not necessarily similar in
total income for jobholders.
Compared to other
tourists, birders in Alaska spent more money, stayed longer and traveled to
more roadless and remote regions of the state during their visit. Prompted by
the need for stealth and insider knowledge on birding spots, birdwatchers
tended to travel in smaller groups and engage in more activities, like guided
tours, than other nonbirders.
Beyond generating money
and jobs for Alaska, birdwatching tourism is a sustainable activity and
supports habitat conservation.
"Once you have
visitors who are coming to Alaska spending money on viewing rare species that
our surroundings provide the critical habitat for on a global scale, it becomes
an incentive to keep that habitat high quality for birds," explained
Tobias Schwoerer, the study lead and an economist at the UAF International
Arctic Research Center.
The segment of the
Alaska tourism industry not associated with large ship, rail or bus cruise lines
is often overlooked and understudied, the study noted. From Schwoerer's
perspective, it's also an under-tapped opportunity for developing small niche
ecotourism businesses, especially in rural communities graced by highly
sought-after bird species.
"Independent
travelers are more likely to take a flight out to the Pribilofs, or go to the
Aleutians to see an exotic species they can't find elsewhere, or book a trip
with a small operator who drives Sprinter vans from Fairbanks to Prudhoe
Bay," Schwoerer said.
The study was inspired
by visitors who departed the typical tourism path and emerged with binoculars
in hand at Haines Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, where Natalie Dawson led birding
hikes and bike rides. Dawson, previously with Audubon Alaska, initiated the
study and recruited Schwoerer for the economic analysis.
"This study gives
us a glimpse of how diverse our state's tourism is and can be in the future, as
well as how intertwined our communities are with visitors in the shared
experience of marveling at the wonders of birds," Dawson said.
To quantify the
economics of Alaska's bird tourism, Schwoerer engaged the Alaska Visitors
Statistics Program, a statewide study commissioned by the Alaska Department of
Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Every four years, interviewers
contact visitors as they exit Alaska via air, cruise, or the marine and land
highway systems. The survey gathers information on visitors' activities, the
amount of money they spent, and where and how they traveled across the state.
Schwoerer incorporated
these visitor statistics into a computer model to visualize how birdwatchers'
spending trickled through the economy. Nearly half of the bird-related tourism
spending took place in Southeast Alaska, typically on tours. Well-known birding
destinations like Nome also emerged as hot spots for birdwatcher spending and
illustrated the economic benefit to communities of investing in nature-based
tourism infrastructure.
"Sustainable and
well-managed birdwatching is a growth sector. Birdwatching in Alaska is a type
of tourism where Alaskans can capitalize on the region's intact lands and
waters," said David Krause, Audubon Alaska's interim executive director
and director of conservation. "It's an exciting place of opportunity that
protects irreplaceable and fragile ecosystems while supporting jobs."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220706165344.htm
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