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Would it be a good idea to …
… expand on Luzerne County’s natural appeal as a destination for birdwatchers?
At Council Cup Scenic Overlook near Wapwallopen, spring’s arrival in the coming days can be measured by a gradual uptick in migrating raptors and songbirds. By May, during peak warbler migration, 15 to 20 species might be detected in Wilkes-Barre’s Kirby Park. And at Nescopeck State Park, near White Haven, creeks, ponds and other soggy spots support ospreys, belted kingfishers and wood ducks, according to the 2009 “Eastern Pennsylvania Birding & Wildlife Guide.”
An estimated 18 million people in the United States are “birders” willing to travel a few miles, or a few hundred, to observe and appreciate winged things in the wild. The average birdwatcher in this category, according to one economic analysis, is about 53 years old with a “better than average” education and income.
Could residents of the Greater Wyoming Valley better capitalize on our environmental resources, catering to these tourists who have binoculars in hand and bucks in the pocket? Might certain area restaurants, hotels and other businesses foster this niche market – the ecotourist with birds on the brain?
Luzerne County, after all, is within a short distance – as the crow flies – from the renowned Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, in southern Schuylkill County, and the bird-rich habitats of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the Pocono Plateau.
Likewise, snowy egrets, mallards and mergansers can at times be spied along the Lackawanna River.
That’s not to imply you need to go beyond Luzerne County’s borders for birding enjoyment; eagles, for instance, have been spotted over the lake at Frances Slocum State Park in the Back Mountain. Other popular birding spots include Seven Tubs Natural Area in Plains Township, the Mocanaqua Loop Trail and placid places known mainly to members of the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. (Ask them about the Houck Sanctuary in Nescopeck Township.)
Is it feasible to take advantage of nearby flyways to bill this part of Pennsylvania as a bona fide birders’ haven? Could a bird-focused marketing push complement existing efforts to tout this area’s outdoor recreation opportunities such as kayaking and hiking?
Or are the chances of this idea getting off the ground about as good as observing a dodo in flight? Give us your feedback by sending a letter to the editor or posting comments to this editorial at timesleader.com.
Likewise, tell us your ideas for improving the community and making area residents’ lives better. Maybe we’ll spotlight your suggestion in a future editorial and ask readers, “Would it be a good idea to …”