In three days I will be flying down to coastal Mississippi to address a bunch of business leaders about realizing the potential of the birding market.
This amuses me on several levels.
First, I am amused that there even is such a thing as a birding market. Back when I started birding, there were fewer birders than there are Democrats in Wyoming. There was, I believe, precisely one mail order binocular dealer. There was one bird watching publication. There was no reason to believe that those who fell in this narrow band of the human spectrum would one day constitute the second largest, fastest growing outdoor avocation in North America.
Yes, I’m talking about bird watchers. Pry yourself away from your Zenith black and white TV. Hop in your Studebaker. Drive down to the local park.
All those people walking around with binoculars around their necks and smiles on their faces? Those are bird watchers. Those people who are walking around mumbling to themselves? They’re on the telephone.
And you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. But you can still watch I Love Lucy and What’s My Line? (providing that you trade in your rabbit ears for cable).
Second, I am amused because I am the very last person on earth who should be an acolyte, apostle, or spokesperson for birding. The reason I started birding was to get away from people. If I had any inkling it would one day become as popular as the latest diet and weight loss scheme coming out of Los Angeles I would have turned and run.
Third, and finally, I am most amused because business leaders in what is commonly (and mistakenly) regarded as the economic end of the earth would be interested enough in this subject to fly in a carpet bagger from the North. I am amused because there are still a whole lot of business people right here in Cape May (center of the Birding Universe), New Jersey who continue to be oblivious to birders and their potential.
Attention restaurant owners. Birders have the same metabolism as normal people. They need to eat. Sometimes three times a day.
Attention B&B owners. Birders keep odd hours but they need 7-8 a night just like the rest of us.
Attention café and bar owners. At the end of a hard birding day (around or precisely at 5:00 p.m.) birders like to hoist a few while doing their checklist. In many world renowned birding hotspots, there is a tap room that is recognized as the birder’s hangout. On the Sicily Isles, it’s the Porch Cressa pub. In Winnie, Texas, birders hang out at Al T’s.
There is no alcoholic epicenter for birders in Cape May. There is no favorite breakfast spot. There is no famous birders B&B.
There used to be. Back in the 50s and 60s everyone who was anyone stayed at Ma Shaffer’s in Cape May Point. And that was when birders were a numeric minority.
Did you know that the seminal work on birding economics was done right here in Cape May?
Do you realize that? Literally, tens of thousands of people come here every year with no other purpose than watching birds? Then they eat, drink, and sleep.
It certainly is odd that more people aren’t targeting their potential. For example, that there is no B&B (to my knowledge) that is promoting a 5:00 a.m. birder’s breakfast. Small wonder that the most popular place at 5:00 a.m. during May in Cape May, is the WAWA.
And some of you might be thinking: “Well, those economically strapped folks down in Mississippi certainly need the income. I mean, who goes to Mississippi?”
It just so happens, that Casino Gambling is the economic engine in that region. They’ve got plenty of visitors; plenty of market.
But they are interested in the birding market, anyway.
Imagine that.