WOW! Once you have looked at the statistics for the 2008 Festival, you will know that this one was the biggest and let me tell you why it was the best.
Every one who came for a week, a day or a few hours told us that they had fun, learned something new, met new friends, visited with old friends, spent one-on-one time with the nationally known speakers and field trip leaders, soaked up the sun, meandered several times through the outstanding exhibit area, posed for a photo with the Raptor Project birds or Paige from the Audubon Birds of Prey, relaxed at the afternoon socials and basically had an enjoyable adventure. The Festival hosted classes from five local schools and several home-schooled families.
This was a festival that turned the corner with individuals and families who were not considered "birders", coming to expand their knowledge about the environment, conservation and archeology. Some who have taken up photography as a hobby came to work with the experienced and nationally known photographers to learn the latest techniques in digital use as well as work with the optics experts to learn digiscoping. One digiscoping 'student' used his high-tech cell phone to capture wildlife images seen through his scope.
We were host to Operation Migration (OM) - an organization that plays the leading role in reintroducing Whooping Cranes in eastern North America thereby helping to safeguard the species from extinction. Joe Duff, CEO of OM and its senior pilot of ultra light aircraft, provided extensive information about this project in two presentations. Jim and Jonnie Swann Corporation and Barbara Hoelscher and family donated funding to bring OM to the Festival.
Innovative and mind-stimulating Key Notes were presented to rapt audiences by: John Moran, delivering a memorable look at a Florida seldom seen; Jeff Bouton, taking a humorous, lighthearted look at birding; Jeff Gordon, telling stories of birds that have made a difference to all birders; Kevin T. Karlson, delving into the mystique of bird migration and finally, John Acorn - "the Nature Nut" - who sang his way into an outstanding discussion of the importance of using field notes as a form of self-help therapy.
A new field trip took attendees to the Tomoka Landfill - where else to find birds, especially gulls- but at a garbage dump. Another took attendees to Marl Bed Flats - a live hammock and marshland that attracts a variety of birds and wildlife species. The old favorite field trips - Black Rails and North Brevard Hotspots - had waiting lists even though additional trips were scheduled. Several other field trips were also filled with many attendees moving from one to another in order to experience the enormous preponderance of birds, wildlife and plants for which this area is famous.
The Pelagic Boat Trip was the crowning finale for those who sailed offshore on Monday, January 28, 2008. Many saw 2-3 life birds among the most impressive array of pelagic birds that graced the boaters. Please visit the festival web site - www.nbbd.com/fly - for a complete list of pelagic birds seen. However, the important ones are: Iceland Gull, Sabine's Gull, Great Cormorant, Manx Shearwater and Audubon's Shearwater. Animals/mammals seen were the Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Spotted Dolphin, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Hammerhead Shark, Sailfish, Ocean Sunfish and Remora.
A special THANKS to all who helped to make the 11th Annual Festival outstanding. I know that it is a cliché to say, "It takes a village, etc." ... but so many people (sponsors, partners, volunteers, exhibitors, attendees) who love this event have been involved since the beginning in 1997. Each year we have been extremely fortunate to have new ones step up in some way; bringing their expertise, funds, products, smiles and interest to make each year as remarkable as the last. You can rest assured that even as we grow, we will always remain a community event dedicated to birding and wildlife education, conservation of our natural and cultural heritage resources, promotion of Florida's Space Coast and making sure that our local, national and international attendees have a memorable outdoor adventure experience.
Neta Harris
March 12, 2008
2008 FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
- 217 Events (Field Trips, Seminars, Workshops, Keynotes, Photo Workshops, Kayak Adventures and Sunday Social) were available to attendees.
- 1,255 persons Registered for participation in one or more event (from 1-10 events) [27% increase]
- 222 signed in for Seminars/Keynotes and paid at the door. [27% increase]
- 99 Field Trip Leaders/Speakers provided their time, talent and effort to bring quality information to each event participant.
- 97 Artists entered the Art Competition. 6 students entered the Poster Competition. Sponsored by Dynamac International and presented by the Titusville Art League, over $1,400 in prizes was awarded.
- 81 Businesses/Organizations filled booths in the Exhibit Area. (7 had 2 booths - all had at least 2 assisting in each booth)
- 52 Volunteers helped to make each Festival Attendee feel comfortable and welcome!
- 1,990 others visited the Exhibit Area, Art Competition and Silent Auction - (an average of over 475 per day) - many came specifically to participate in the thrilling Raptor Project presentations sponsored by Nikon, interact with the Florida critters brought by Hands-on-Wildlife presented by Florida Power and Light and learn about Operation Migration sponsored by Jim & Jonnie Swann and Barbara Hoelscher and family. [18% increase]
An estimated 3,883 persons attended during the five-days and participated in some aspect of the Festival. [18% increase]
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Over 27,383 visits were made to the Festival web site from April 2007 through January 2008.
Over 2,844 emails were received and answered between April 2007 and February 2008.
Over 3,675 telephone calls (including voice messages) were received and/or returned between April 2007 and February 2008.
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FESTIVAL REGISTERED ATTENDEES CAME FROM THESE STATES
| Alabama |
Arizona |
California |
Colorado |
| Connecticut |
Deleware |
Florida |
Georgia |
|
| Illinois |
Indiana |
Iowa |
Kansas |
| Kentucky |
Louisana |
Maine |
Maryland |
| Massachusetts |
Michigan |
Minnesota |
Mississippi |
| Missouri |
Nebraska |
New Jersey |
New York |
|
| North Carolina |
Ohio |
Oklahoma |
Oregon |
|
| Pennsylvania |
Rhode Island |
South Carolina |
South Dakota |
| Tennessee |
Texas |
Utah |
Vermont |
|
| Virginia |
Washington |
West Virginia |
Wisconsin |
| Wyoming |
(41 states) |
|
|
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED ATTENDEES CAME FROM THESE COUNTRIES
| Argentina |
Canada |
Ecuador |
Panama |
South Africa |
United Kingdom |
FLORIDA REGISTERED ATTENDEES CAME FROM THESE COUNTIES
| Alachua |
Bay |
Brevard |
Broward |
Citrus |
Clay |
|
| Collier |
Dade |
Desoto |
Dixie |
Duval |
Flagler |
| Franklin |
Hernando |
Highland |
Hillsborough |
Indian River |
Lake |
| Lee |
Leon |
Marion |
Martin |
Monroe |
Nassau |
| Orange |
Osceola |
Palm Beach |
Pinellas |
Polk |
Putnam |
| Sarasota |
Seminole |
St. Johns |
St. Lucie |
Volusia |
Wakulla |
| (36 counties) |
|
|
|
|
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33% of Festival Registered Attendees were from outside Florida
67% of Festival Registered Attendees were from outside of Brevard County
33% of Festival Registered Attendees were from Brevard County
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ACCOMMODATIONS
(Registered attendees = stated in bed nights Overall total = 3,072)
Total Motel/Hotel Room Nights: 1,617 (from 2 nights to 14 nights - average stay - 6 nights)
RV Parks: 703 (from 3-14 nights) Camping: 101 (from 2-5 nights)
Condo: 336 (from 7-21 nights) Relative: 315 (from 5-10 nights)
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REGISTERED ATTENDEES
| First time attendees: |
767 |
|
Previous Festival attendees: |
488 |
| Attendees driving to the Festival: |
1,159 |
|
Attendees flying to the Festival: |
96 |
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How did you hear about the 2008 Festival?
- Attended Festival previously (many stated times attended - 1 to 10 years)
- From a Previous attendee/friend
- Festival Program
- Newspaper article/ad
- Another festival
- TV ad
- Florida Welcome Center
- Internet web site (Festival/others/VF/Space-Coast /Operation Migration/"Googled Birding Festival")
- Magazine ad ( Bird Watcher's Digest/Wild Bird/Birders World/ABA-Birding)
- Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge
- Local Audubon Chapter (many counties)
- BCC outdoor sign
- Banner at local hotel
- Birdchick's blog
- Dixie Crossroads
- Billboard seen in 2006 - "first chance we could attend"
- From another birder
- From a photographer
- From previous year vendor/speaker/field trip leader
SCBWF © 2008
