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Response 2.2:*hvrdence <br />Response 2.3:..*ProJectron <br />We estimated attendance numbers based on similar bird vvatching festivals in the <br />state that regularly attract many hundreds of attendees, a survey lre conducted in <br />2014, Kittitas County Tourism and Recreation Plan that identifies Wldlife viewing as <br />the third most popular activity and among the highesi day-trip ependiture <br />category, and WA State SCORP with nearly 60% of tourists engaging in wildlife <br />viewing activities. <br />We also based our 3rd year numbers on attendance results from last year - our <br />second year o{ the event. <br />We further base our estimates on a survey of birders visiting the Yakima River <br />Canyon Scenic Byway lve conducted in 2014. <br />Because of that survey, ra,e know that birders visiting the Yakima River Canyon <br />Scenic Bplay 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 betueen $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 counlry for birding eperiences. When <br />traveling for birding excursions auay from home, most stay overnight for <br />approximately 2 nights in a motel/lrotel. The majority of birders rltto 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 Byriray 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 rir.e receive fronr lhe Bureau of <br />Land Management about their recreation sites in the Yakima River Canyon Scenic <br />Byiray. Recently released use survey numbers show a steady and significant use <br />patlern in the Canyon that shorir,s nearly 400,000 overnight stays in the Canyon <br />during 6 months (May-Oci) in 2017 <br />2500 character limt <br />3. or tromanolher country or slate outside ol their f,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 Fest is sure to be a very well attended <br />event. <br />KEEN anticipates between 500 attendees in our 3rd year. Based <br />on last years attendance. raie estimate 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 character linit