A new report, released July 15, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) says one in every five Americans watches birds. In doing so, birdwatchers contributed $36 billion to the U.S. economy in 2006 (just one year alone), the most recent year for which economic data was available.

That’s excellent news. Birding has no doubt grown since 2006 as baby boomers and retirees have continued to grow in numbers. Another force at work is the ailing economy; many Americans have chosen not to travel abroad for their vacations and have been looking for inexpensive ways to relax.

Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis shows that total participation in birdwatching is strong at 48 million, and has remained at a steady 20 percent of the U.S. population since 1996. The report identifies who birders are, where they live, how avid they are, and what kinds of birds they watch. In addition to demographic information, this report also provides an estimate of how much birders spend partaking in their hobby.  The report is an addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The 2006 survey is the eleventh in a series of surveys conducted every five years. The survey, according to USFWS, “helps quantify how enjoyment of the outdoors and wildlife contributes to society and promotes a healthy economy.”