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Response 2.1;. We estimated attendance numbers based on similar bird watching festivals in the <br />Evidence * state that regularly attract many hundreds of attendees, a survey we conducted in <br />2014, Kittitas County Tourism and Recreation Plan that identifies wildlife viewing as <br />the third most popular activity and among the highest day -trip expenditure <br />category, and WA State SCORP with nearly 60% of tourists engaging in wildlife <br />viewing activities. <br />We also based our 2nd year numbers on attendance results from last year - our <br />first year of the event. We have attached our summary attendance sheet to this <br />grant. <br />We further base our estimates on a survey of birders visiting the Yakima River <br />Canyon Scenic Byway we conducted in 2014. <br />Because of that survey, we knowthat birders visiting the Yakima River Canyon <br />Scenic Byway are split equally between males and females with an average age of <br />61 years old and over. The majority of respondents lived in Western Washington <br />(King, Pierce, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties) with an income between $100,000 <br />and $149,000. <br />Birders that participated in the survey said that they typically travel about 100 <br />miles, but will travel between 100 miles and 500 miles to seek out great birding <br />opportunities that have a wide variety and rare bird species. Several survey <br />respondents take yearly trips out of state or country for birding experiences. When <br />traveling for birding excursions away from home, most stay overnight for <br />approximately 2 nights in a motel/hotel. The majority of birders who took this survey <br />said that they have been to the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway for birding <br />excursions. What they like best about the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway is <br />the variety and number of birds that show up due to the diversity of habitat. <br />We also base our projections on use statistics that we receive from the Bureau of <br />Land Management about their recreation sites in the Yakima River Canyon Scenic <br />Byway. Recently released use survey numbers show a steady and significant use <br />pattern in the Canyon that shows nearly 400,000 overnight stays in the Canyon <br />during 6 months (May -Oct) in 2016. <br />2500 character limit <br />Response 2.2: 2.7o a place fifty rriles or more away fromtheir place of residence or business for the day or staying overnight; <br />Projection * With over 1.1 million annual drivers and thousands of birders visiting the Canyon <br />annually, the Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest is sure to be a very well attended <br />event. KEEN anticipates between 500 - 750 attendees in our second year. Based <br />on last years attendance, we estimate that 60% of event attendees will be <br />considered tourists (-300 people) and 20% of them will be staying for the day or <br />staying overnight in non -paid accommodations (-60 people). <br />2500 character lint <br />