Bird Hobbyists Pay for Live Songbirds

As the bird watching and feeding industry has soared in the United States, bird hobbyists now outnumber all hunters and anglers combined. Additionally, the National Bird-Feeding Society affirms that "more people feed birds than watch football, baseball, or any other sport, or participate in any other outdoor activity" - making 'birders' another advocacy group for protecting all songbirds, including the mourning dove.

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation), over 52 million people participate in the watching and feeding of wild birds and spend over $25 billion annually on bird watching and feeding devices and supplies. Adding to wildlife-watching total industry output (TIO $85.4 billion) is the overall economic 'ripple effect' which creates jobs, employment income, and state and federal income tax.

In Michigan (1996 FHWAR MI Survey), approximately 2.6 million residents 16 years or older participated in non-consumptive wildlife-watching activities and spent $1.3 billion on equipment and other expenditures relating to the activity.

As a backyard bird, the mourning dove is the second most-frequently reported bird at feeders in the United States (Barker and Tessaglia-Hymes 1999).

With the economical and political influence of bird hobbyists, Michigan's mourning dove population has a powerful ally to fight off and end unwarranted attacks by misguided special interests. We "pay" for our songbirds!

Special Note: The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation is one of the oldest and most comprehensive continuing recreation surveys available. As a five year study, the 2001 report will be available the last quarter of 2002. The 1996 report is available online at www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/fishing.html or by calling 1-800-344-WILD. In addition, the 1996 National and State Economic Impacts of Wildlife Watching Report can be requested.

Source, including but not limited to: Animal Welfare Institute, New York Times, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Bird-Feeding Society, Oregon State University.