Posted on 06/24/2004 10:54:58 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Birdiest City retained because watchers knew what counted.
More than 60 local bird watchers hatched a strategy for their successful defense of Corpus Christi's title as America's Birdiest City.
On the weekend of April 24-25, they deployed to places where they knew they would spot a lot of birds. Outnumbered, they faced 100 pairs of binoculars in New York City and 80 pairs in San Diego, Calif., said local Audubon Outdoor Club member Bob Craeglow.
But they outcounted what counted: 246 verifiable species to San Diego's 209 and New York's 190.
"I think Birdiest City is a point of pride, something to talk about and to share," said New York City Audubon Society's executive director, E.J. McAdams. "These cities are living ecosystems, not just concrete wastelands."
Birdiest City is a bankable point of pride, local tourism officials say. Bird lovers come to Corpus Christi from all over the country, some spending thousands of dollars, in hopes of spotting rare birds like the Grooved-Bill Ani and the Yellow-Legged Gull.
About 1 million bird watchers travel to Texas to observe, photograph and feed wildlife. In 2001, wildlife watching participants spent $1.3 billion on the pastime, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's latest National Survey on Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Association Recreation.
"They spend more than the tourist coming to town for the beach," said Ann Neese, eco-tourism sales manager for the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They spend money on hotels, restaurants, gas stations and equipment. They rent canoes, kayaks or whatever it takes to see a specific bird. Birding is early in the morning or in the evening so they sightsee during the day."
Craeglow is glad to know the effort to win the title is appreciated.
"Hopefully, it will give this city an idea that birders are not just a bunch of screwballs that run around with telescopes and binoculars," he said.
"We bring in large dollars to the economy because people come in from all over to bird watch. Even the little town of Bishop is in birding magazines."
Philip Pryde, a retired San Diego State University professor who began the contest four years ago, is one of millions of birders who have traveled to Corpus Christi for the chance of spotting a rare species.
"Of all places, we visited the city's dump," Pryde said. "Dumps are a favorite hangout for gulls. It was a matter of debate on whether or not we saw a Yellow-Legged Gull but it was a hard bird to identify."
Contact Cinda Alvarado at 886-3662 or alvaradoc@caller.com
"..and New York's 190. "
I had no idea there were so many different species of pigeon...
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