Strategy to Boost Birding

A regional collaborative effort is underway to improve birding and its associated economic benefits through the implementation of the recommendations in the "Birding in the Essex Region" report. In the Ministry of Tourism's Premiere Ranked Tourist Destination Evaluation Report (2003), birding was identified as one of the region's core attractors. However, in the past several years, there has been a decline in birding visitation. Concerned with this trend, key stakeholders met with the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island to strategize on how to better capitalize on this important tourism product and market, which has the potential to bring $14 million into the Essex Region.

The report, Birding in the Essex Region: A Collaborative Approach to Enhancing Birding and Tourism, identifies forty-four recommendations for refreshing birding products, enhancing habitat, undertaking creative and cooperative marketing opportunities, and engaging the business sector. Partners, who also include Point Pelee National Park, the Municipality of Leamington, Town of Amherstburg, and Chatham-Kent, are pleased to report that they have already taken action to begin implementing ten of these recommendations.

"While the region is known worldwide for both spring and fall birding, the overall number of birders to the region is in decline," said Ken Schmidt, ERCA General Manager. "We are pleased to be one of the stakeholders committed to working together to halt the decline and bring new birders to Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island." A copy of the report's executive summary can be found online at www.visitwindsor.com