Researchers at the University of Washington and Humboldt State University have produced evidence value added by birds in urban settings.
"A new study published last month in the journal Urban Ecosystems tries to determine what economic value residents in two comparable cities place on having birds in their backyards and parks," according to an article by Michelle Ma. The study found the value of birds in Seattle and Berlin to equal "$120 million and $70 million a year for each city, respectively."
To reach their conclusions, "[re]searchers at the University of Washington and Humboldt State University compared two types of common birds – finches and corvids – in both cities, asking residents how much they would pay to conserve the species and what they spend, if anything, on bird food."
Residents in both cities place "sizeable" value on bird enjoyment, according to Ma's explanation of the study, and birds offer a sizeable return to the local economy as residents pay for food and nesting structures. According to Ma, this is the first study that quantifies the daily, urban value of birds, rather than birds as a driver of tourism or conservation.
FULL STORY: Common birds bring economic vitality to cities, new study finds
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research