North Alabama Birding Trail
Frequently Asked Questions

Fact sheet about the conservation, economic, and social benefits of the birding trail.

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Additional Facts About the Project

The project began September 10, 2003, and completion is expected by spring 2005. There will be about 50 birding sites included on the North Alabama Birding Trail. Some species of birds that can be seen at these sites include Bald eagles, Sand Hill cranes, hummingbirds, and large concentrations of migratory waterfowl. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the most popular habitats for birdwatching nationwide are woodlands, the sides of lakes and rivers, fields and open areas, and marshes and swamps. This mix of habitats is very similar to the offerings found at the North Alabama Birding Trail sites.

Sites were selected for a number of different reasons. Some sites offer the opportunity to see a large number of birds. Other sites have many different species of birds. And others provide the opportunity to view rare or endangered birds – without harming the birds or their habitats. Not only were the outstanding birdwatching characteristics of the site considered in the site selection process, but also the ability of each site to withstand visitation without causing environmental damage to the site or negatively impacting the bird species was evaluated.

The presence of a birding trail in north Alabama is expected to provide visitors and residents alike with a quality outdoor birding experience. Similar birding trails in other parts of the country have helped areas to take important strides in bird conservation. C ase studies have found that communities all across the nation that are involved in birding trails and nature tourism take action to protect habitats for wildlife. Conservation messages are an integral part of the visitor experience as well. Trails bring agencies, organizations, communities, and individuals to the table to find common ground and solutions that will sustain ecosystems for the long-term.

Estimated total cost of the project is $280,000 of which $210,000 came from a federal grant to the ADCNR under the Wildlife and Conservation Restoration Program to provide recreation and education about Alabama's non-game wildlife species. Chambers of commerce and visitors bureaus in north Alabama obtained $70,000 in matching funds for the federal grant from municipalities, agencies, businesses, and others.

A trail map and guide, as well as an informational brochure, will be published as part of this project. These materials will provide important visitor information about site locations, bird identification, and habitat types. Other visitor services planned as part of the trail include constructing informational kiosks at six or eight key sites in the Valley. These facilities will provide detailed information about the Trail and the nature of north Alabama. Many of the other birding trail sites will also have smaller interpretive panels that will help to enrich site visitors' experiences. As a result of these new facilities, private businesses such as guiding services and outfitters can be expected to start-up and serve as another new source of revenue for local communities.

ADCNR contracted with FERMATA, Inc., an Austin, Texas-based firm, to lead trail development efforts. FERMATA is North America's leading nature tourism consulting group, specializing in providing strategies for generating revenue in local communities through sustainable nature tourism projects.

Demand for a birding trail

The most recent National Survey on Recreation and the Environment shows that the number of people involved in wildlife viewing in the US in 2000 – about 70 million - more than tripled from the number of wildlife watchers reported in 1982. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service over 700,000 people took part in bird watching in Alabama in 2001, part of a group of 46 million birdwatchers nationwide.

Only 70,000 of Alabama's bird watchers were visitors to the state. Creating the North Alabama Birding Trail will provide the framework of visitor services and promotion needed to attract greater numbers of people to this area. We expect that current visitation numbers will at least double after the new Trail is completed.

Statistics from the Gulf Shores CVB indicate bird watching activities have increased significantly since the Coastal Birding Trail opened two years ago. In the spring of 2003, 16.8% of vacationers visited the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge as compared to 6.4% in 2001. In addition, activities involving wildlife observation grew from 10.3% to 17.2% for the same period.

Motivations of nature tourists

Research from the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) finds that 76% of U.S. travelers would like to visit someplace they have never visited before and 48% are interested in a destination that is remote and untouched. North Alabama is a perfect destination for these folks.

According to the 2001 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, people participate in nature tourism activities such as bird watching for a number of reasons including: to enjoy sights, smells, sounds of nature; to be outdoors; to see wildlife species that they haven't seen before; to get away from the demands of life, and as part of recreation with their family.

Who is a nature tourist

FERMATA's interviews with nearly 3,000 wildlife viewers in five locations across the US provides a good profile of the typical nature tourist. They are generally 52 years old, about as likely to be man as a woman, and have an individual median income of nearly $62,000/year. These are well educated people who generally completed at least four years of college, Nature tourists tend to take short trips – two nights and three days – within a six-hour drive one-way from their home, averaging over ten such trips each year. The US Fish and Wildlife Service's demographic data for wildlife viewers is very similar to these findings.

Nature tourists are often members of a socio-demographic group referred to as the “The Creative Class . These people prefer active, authentic, and participatory experiences in which they can have a hand structuring (R. Florida 2002).

FERMATA's research found that over 75 percent of the nature travelers in the US are from urban or suburban areas. As such, they lack even basic knowledge of the natural world and how to find their way to nature. There are over 3 million people living in urban and suburban areas, including Nashville, Knoxville, and Atlanta, within a six-hour drive of north Alabama.

Economic impacts of birding trails on local communities

Bird watchers spent $7.4 billion nationwide in 2001 for food, lodging, transportation and other trip related expenses; and another $24.3 billion for wildlife watching equipment and other expenses (USFWS 2001). Birding trails in other parts of the country have helped to make significant economic contributions to local communities; and the trail in North Alabama is expected to provide an important boost to the Tennessee Valley area economy.

In 2001 the average annual spending by out-of-state wildlife viewers nationwide, including bird watchers, was $488/person (USFWS 2001). In Alabama, this amounts to $34 million per year in visitor spending currently. And, with the increased visitation that the new North Alabama Birding Trail will create, an additional $34 million per year in expenditures is expected.

Primary contacts for the project

•  Mary Jeanne Packer, Proj Mgr, FERMATA, Inc. 802-287-4284 or 802 236 0881

•  Mark Sasser, Nongame Wildlife Coordinator, AL Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (334)-242-3469

•  Pam Swanner, Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 256-350-2028

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