The value of wildlife viewing when wildlife populations are mobile

Abstract This paper presents research on the economic value of wildlife watching trips. Our analysis accounts for wildlife mobility and connectivity between viewing sites, which could bias basic welfare calculations, by linking demand to spatially connected, site-specific populations. We examine the potential for bias with an application to birdwatching in Indiana. Viewers value species diversity and population abundance, particularly sandhill cranes. Scenarios that ignore spatial connectivity overstate welfare losses by up to 34%.