Hi Bill,
The second most popular hobby in the country is birding: watching,
feeding, and enjoying the birds at home, in the nearby park, and when
traveling.
I've organized a digest of links to articles and reports related to
what you listed in your question.
An excerpt from The Sunflower Magazine describes dollars spent on feed
and accessories for the feeding of wild birds.
“Wild bird feeding is the most popular wildlife-related recreational
activity in the nation, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
A 1996 survey reported that 52 million Americans feed wild birds
around their homes. This huge group spent an estimated $2.7 billion on
feed and an additional $832 million on bird-feeding accessories
(feeders, houses, water warmers) that year -figures which were up 16
percent from the amount estimated to have been spent in 1991.”
Those numbers don't surprise birdfood suppliers, who report a steady
increase in demand over the past several years.
Industry sources believe the bird-feeding public has become more
serious and educated about this avocation over the past several years.
They're not only buying more feed to fill multiple feeders, but also
are more familiar with the product that goes into those feeders.
Source: Sunflower Magazine
http://www.sunflowernsa.com/magazine/article.asp?id=132
An article describing the type of food preferred by birds based on the
study by Aelred D. Geis on bird food preferences, published in 1980 by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Sunflowers Magazine
http://www.sunflowernsa.com/birdfeed/details.asp?ID=19
Bird Species & Food Preferences
At this site there is a list of food products in order of preference
for each specie based on the study by Aelred D. Geis on bird food
preferences, published in 1980 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Sunflowers Magazine
http://www.sunflowernsa.com/birdfeed/details.asp?ID=20
Feeding wild birds has become much more refined as individuals attempt
to attract certain species. Food sources and types of feeders are just
a few ways in which today's sophisticated feeders are attracting
preferred or exotic species.
http://www.sunflowernsa.com/birdfeed/default.asp
In the article “Regional and Specialty Bird Seed Suppliers Offer
Variety and Partnering” by Carolyn Allen there is information about
sales by channel.
“Figures are vague in this industry, but estimates of standard bird
seed mixes sold through mass merchandisers and large chains such as
grocery and discount stores run from 50% to 80% of total volume. The
remaining 20-50% of each year's bird feeding market is sold through
independent and specialty retailers in birding stores, lawn and garden
shops, pet stores and feed stores. A few general nature stores and
museum shops also fit into the specialty retail market.”
"Specialty" is a catch-all category of seed manufacturers and
packagers that includes suppliers of custom mixes, unique ingredients,
and sometimes, even unique packaging that sets the product apart from
the bulk of the industry.”
“Recent Gallup poll findings include:
80% of people feed birds year round. The educational process has
worked. The "need" to feed in winter has expanded from saving to
observing the birds.”
“Feeding (and spending) is mixed evenly between men and women
The key buying ages are 35+ with buying spiking at age 50, when they
have more income to spend and more time for enjoyable hobbies.”
Source: Back Yard Nature
http://www.backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl_page.html,template=1&content=77&nav1=1&
Here is another estimate on the birdfeeding industry.
“Imagine a backyard that can fit 52 million people and still have room
to grow! Across North America, that's the number of people who
participate in birdfeeding and wildlife watching in their own
backyards, according to the most recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation.”
“The most recent statistics for consumer spending show people spend
nearly $4.7 billion annually on birdfeeding and watching wildlife. Of
that, they spend $3.2 billion on birdseed and wildlife food, $832
million on birdfeeders, birdbaths and nesting boxes, and $636 million
on binoculars and spotting scopes.”
Source: Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc
http://www.wbu.com/frdev/
Statistics from the Backyard Nature Website:
“A marketing study in the late 90s conducted by Kaytee found that
30% of households fed birds in the past 6 months and of these
households:
-- 71% feed year round
-- 67% have two or more feeders.
The average bird feeder has fed birds for more than 12 years. And most
have grown up feeding birds -- the interest carries over when adults
establish their own home.”
Trends continue to evolve. The grocers claimed 70-80% of the bird seed
market in the early days. Now the mass merchandisers and big box
stores corner 65% of the market. The major shift has happened in the
last ten years.”
Backyard Nature Website
http://www.backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl_page.html,template=1&content=78&nav1=1&
American Birding Association shows some interesting facts.
63.1 million feed wildbirds at home.
In the United States in 1991, 63 million people were residential bird
feeders (less than one mile from home).
Each year, more than $19 billion is spent on nongame wildlife
appreciation in this country (USDI Survey, 1993). Undoubtedly, the
largest part is contributed by bird enthusiasts.
A total of $9.6 billion was spent in 1991 on equipment and supplies
for nongame wildlife appreciation activities (USDI Survey, 1993).
Annually, $2.5 billion is spent on bird seed, feeders, baths, and
nesting boxes. (USDI Survey, 1993)
Source:American Birding Association
http://www.americanbirding.org/programs/consecond4.htm
http://www.americanbirding.org/programs/consecondem.htm
52.2 million residential participants feed wild birds. Over 52
million people fed birds an average of eight months in 1996.
Source: 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 115 pages, 64 tables, and appendices.
November 1997.
http://www.census.gov/prod/3/97pubs/fhw96nat.pdf
Page 6 - Table 1. National Expenditures for Wildlife Watching: 1996
Item Expenditures in millions
Packaged wild bird food $2,129.5
Bulk wild bird food $603.7
Nest boxes, bird houses feeders, baths $831.6
Source: 1996 National and State Economic Impacts of Wildlife Watching.
http://federalaid.fws.gov/info/publish/rpt_96-1.pdf
1980-1995 Participation in Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Watching:
National and Regional Demographic Trends, 83 pages and tables. 1999
http://federalaid.fws.gov/info/publish/rpt_80_95.pdf
Wild Bird Nutrition
http://www.duncraft.com/tipview.ihtml?articlesid=19&step=1&tip=2
Additional Information the may interest you:
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Survey Downloads
http://federalaid.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html
Download a FREE copy of "The Dynamics of Bird Feeding" from the Nation
Bird-Feeding Society Website
http://www.birdfeeding.org/pdf_files/DYN2001.pdf
For further reading:
An important objective of the Wild Bird Feeding Institute is to help
increase sales of seed, feeders and accessories for backyard bird
feeding.
Bird Feeding Institute Website
http://www.wbfi.org/about_us.htm
The Birding Business Magazine
http://www.birdwatchamerica.com/magazine.html
The Back Yard Nature Website reviews two articles from the Birding
Business Magazine.
Innovations in the Bird Food Marketplace
Birding Business — Autumn 2000 — Case Study
Jim Eschenheimer, Dir. Of Marketing, D&D Commodities
“It isn't just birdseed anymore -- it's "nutritional products" Bird
food suppliers have long straddled both wild bird and pet niche
markets. And now, times are changing at the retailing sector -- with
an increasing overlap between these niches. And food is a great way to
turn that overlap into a profit center by expanding your range of
nature products for your customers' convenience.”
Specialty Birdfeeding
Birding Business — Autumn 2001 — Round-up
Includes industry timeline and company overviews.
Regional and specialty birdseed suppliers offer variety and
partnering:
“While birds are not as articulate about their menu as humans, they
certainly make their preferences knows at the feeder! Their friends,
today's bird feeding consumers, are better informed about ecological
issues such as pesticides, nutritional needs, and species-specific
preferences, so they are starting to ask more questions and expect
quality features such as no hulls, gourmet mixes, and freshness.”
Source: Backyard nature Website
http://www.backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl_page.html,template=1&content=2&nav1=3&
Search Criteria:
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Specialty+Birdfeeding+Birding+Business
://www.google.com/search?hl=es&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=U.S.+wild+bird+feed+market+data&spell=1
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=1996+National+and+State+Economic+Impacts+of+Wildlife+Watching
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=wild+bird+feed+%2D+Marketing+Overview
://www.google.com/search?q=wild+bird+feeding+retail+sales+statistics&hl=es&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Innovations+in+the+Bird+Food+Marketplace
I hope you find this helpful
Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga |
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