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Response 2.2:*trvloence <br />Response 2.3: <br />Projection * <br />We estimated attendance numbers based on similar bird u€tching festivals in the <br />state that regularly attract many hundreds of attendees, a survey we conducted in <br />20'14, Kittitas County Tourism and Recreation Plan that identifies wildlife viewing as <br />the third most popular activity and among the highest day-trip e&endiiure <br />category, and WA Siate SCORP with nearly 60% of tourisis engaging in wildlife <br />viewing activities. <br />We also based our 3rd year numbers on attendance resulls from last year - our <br />second year of the event. <br />We further base our estimates on a survey of birders visiting the Yakima River <br />Canyon Scenic Byway r,r,e conducted in 2014. <br />Because of that survey, w-. know that birders visiting the Yakima River Canyon <br />Scenic Byway are split equally betureen males and females with an average age of <br />61 years old and over. The majority of respondents lived in Western Washingion <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 lvide variety and rare bird species. Several survey <br />respondents take yearly irips out of state or country for birding erperiences. When <br />traveling for birding excursions avray from home, most stay overnight for <br />approximately 2 nights in a molel/hotel. The majority of birders Wro took this survey <br />said that they have been to the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byraay for birding <br />excursions. What they like best about the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byrnay 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 o{ <br />Land Management about their recreation sites in the Yakima River Canyon Scenic <br />Byvrcy. Recenily released use survey numbers show a steady and significant use <br />pattern in the Canyon that shornrs nearly 400,000 overnight stays in the Canyon <br />during 6 months (May-Oct) in 2017 <br />2500 character linit <br />3. or fromanother country or state cx-rtside of lheir $ace of residence or business. <br />With over 1.1 million annual drivers and thousands of birders visiting the Canyon <br />annually, the Yakima River Canyon Bird Fesi is sure to be a very i,trell attended <br />eveni. <br />KEEN anticipates betriwen 500 attendees in our 3rd year. Based <br />on last years altendance, vrle esiimate that 60% of event attendees will be <br />considered tourists (-300 people) and that 30% of them will be from another state <br />or out of Country (-90 people). <br />2500 characler linii