People are putting increasing demands on Nebraska's Platte River, but until now, no one had determined the economic impact of the bird watchers who travel from all over the world to the Middle Platte to see the Sandhill Cranes during their spring migration.

After determining the economic impact of nature watchers on Nebraska's Middle Platte River, Fermata researched hunting and fishing trends to determine the total economic impact of wildlife related recreation on the Middle Platte.

Cape May, New Jersey is a popular bird watching spot during the fall hawk migration and spring songbird migration. One of the more unusual events is the spring shorebird migration that occurs while horseshoe crabs are spawning. A survey of birders was undertaken to determine the economic impact of tourism associated with the horseshoe crab and the level of support for a management plan for the horseshoe crabs.

Communities wishing to develop an ecotourist base are confronted with a number of challenges. First, the locality must possess substantial and/or unique natural or environmental attractions. Second, a tourist support infrastructure (hotels, restaurants) must exist or be developed. Third, information concerning the environmental attributes of the area must be developed for both advertisement and guidance. Last, materials and personnel offering assistance in interpreting the ecological value of the area should be available.

Among the most renowned destinations for avitourists in the U.S. is High Island, Texas. Visited by thousands of birders during a brief season, High Island provided a unique opportunity to quantify birdingÕs economic impact at a single location.

Avitourism in Texas

Two groups of birders in Texas, the 1998 Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival participants and people who had requested more information on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail (GTCBT), were surveyed. The survey sought to determine the economic impact of the birders, their level of support for the proposed World Birding Center (WBC) in the Rio Grande Valley, their ideas on what the WBC should encompass, and for the GTCBT users, to evaluate the map.