Birding: Introduce this Popular Hobby into Your Program for Success

Birding enthusiasts, also known as “birders,” contribute significantly to the economy, spending an estimated $40 billion annually on supplies, birding trips, and photography equipment (USFWS, 2021). This robust spending generates over 860,000 jobs, highlighting the economic importance of the birding industry. In Florida alone, birding and wildlife viewing activities generate over four billion dollars annually and create around 44,000 jobs (Visit Florida, 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic has further fueled the growth of these numbers, emphasizing the enduring appeal of birding during challenging times. To engage this audience, a series of virtual webinars were developed to educate residents on the identification and biology of Florida’s birds. The webinars also included essential photography tips and field craft techniques. The objective was to measure knowledge gain, aiming for at least a 20% improvement in participants’ understanding of birds found in Central Florida.