Business Resources: Bird Watching and Birding

Many Americans enjoy watching birds, either in their backyard habitat, or by traveling to birding trails. These publications give information on starting a birding business, tips for beginning bird watchers and more.

These resources have been compiled from various resources and agencies and are provided here for educational purposes only. Please if you find information that needs to be updated, broken links, or if you have an additional resource you feel is pertinent.

• Establishing a Birding Related Business
  Texas Cooperative Extension Service. This publication contains background information about the birding market and birders. It includes statistics regarding the economics of the birding market including participation trends, demographics and statistics on the characteristics of birders, how to begin a birding business, determining price, and developing a product.
  
• Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis (2001)
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A national survey of those who participate in recreational bird watching was conducted in 2001. Demographics of birders are presented in this publication including age, income level, participation rate, education level, gender, marital status, racial and ethnic distribution, and participation by state. Birders' expenditures were also measured including trip-related and equipment expenditures.
  
• American Birding Association's Code of Birding Ethics
  Those who participate in birding and bird watching activities adhere to a code of ethics to preserve the habitat and wildlife they observe.
• Birding Basics
  Audubon Society. For those not familiar with bird watching, this guide provides information on buying binoculars, where to look for birds, how to use a bird identification guide, as well as gives information on how to get involved in annual national birding activities.
• Enature.com: Bird Field Guide
  National Wildlife Federation. This online field guide for birds can help users identify bird species that they have observed. Utilize the zip code guide to limit the guide to birds in your area.
• Mississippi Recreational Gardens: Establishing a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
  Mississippi State University Extension Service. All wildlife requires food, water and shelter to survive. This publication discusses providing those necessities in a backyard environment. Detailed information is given on how to attract birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bats, snakes, lizards, toads and frogs. Information is also provided on controlling deer, rodents, and other animals that are considered pests. Management tips are given for making your backyard the best habitat possible including an example and how to create a trail.