Study: Birders spend $ 378 million in Alaska a year

A dedicated and lucky bird watcher in Alaska can spot an elusive Bluethroat north of the Brooks Range, spot bold marks on a Harlequin Duck as it zips into an inland river, encounter the all four species of eider in Utqiaġvik, or take in the sound of thousands feeding on shorebirds in the Copper River Delta.

Thousands of birdwatchers flock to Alaska each year, taking the opportunity to check out the rare and hard-to-find species from their list. In doing so, they provide often unnoticed economic boost and incentives for residential preservation.

New research of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Audubon Alaska found that nearly 300,000 birders traveled the state and spent approximately $ 378 million in 2016. Birdwatching supported approximately 4,300 jobs in Alaska that year, a number similar to the mining and telecommunications industries but not necessarily identical to the total income for job holders.

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. Because of the need for stealth and insider knowledge at birding spots, birdwatchers often travel in smaller groups and do more activities, such as guided tours, than non -birds.

Beyond generating money and jobs for Alaska, bird watching tourism is a sustainable activity and supports habitat conservation.

“When you have visitors coming to Alaska who spend money looking at the rare species that our environment provides critical habitat for a global scope, it becomes an incentive to keep the quality of that habitat high. for birds, ”explains Tobias Schwoerer, head of the study. and an economist at the UAF International Arctic Research Center.

Ecotourism is often ignored, uneducated

The segment of the Alaska tourism industry that is not associated with large ship, rail or bus cruise lines is often overlooked and uneducated, the study says. From Schwoerer’s perspective, it is also an underutilized opportunity for the development of small ecotourism businesses, especially in rural communities adorned with highly sought after bird species.

“Independent travelers are more likely to fly to Pribilofs, or go to Aleutians to see exotic species they can’t find elsewhere, or book a trip with a small operator that drives Sprinter vans from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, ”Schwoerer said.

The study inspired visitors to leave the usual path of tourism and appear with binoculars in hand to Haines Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, where Natalie Dawson led birding hikes and bike rides. Dawson, formerly with Audubon Alaska, initiated the study and recruited Schwoerer for economic analysis.

“This study gives us a glimpse into how unique our state’s tourism is and could be in the future, as well as how our communities relate to visitors to the shared experience of admiring the amazing -wonderful birds, “Dawson said.

Southeast Alaska and Nome are popular places

To quantify Alaska’s bird tourism economy, Schwoerer partnered with the Alaska Visitors Statistics Program, a statewide study commissioned by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Every four years, interviewers interact with visitors as they exit Alaska by air, cruise, or the marine and land highway system. The survey gathers information on visitors ’activities, the amount of money they spent, and where and how they traveled across the state.

Schwoerer combined these visitor statistics into a computer model to illustrate how birdwatch spending flows into the economy. Nearly half of bird-related tourism spending takes place in Southeast Alaska, mostly on tours. Well -known birding destinations such as Nome have also emerged as hotspots for birdwatcher spending and described 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 take advantage of the region’s entire lands and waters,” said David Krause, Audubon Alaska’s interim executive director and director of conservation. “This is an exciting area of ​​opportunity that protects the irreplaceable and fragile ecosystem while supporting jobs.”

This study was funded by the Edgerton Foundation. Thanks to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for providing this news.

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