Bird trail training program to conclude

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on October 31, 2008 1:46 PM

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KENANSVILLE -- The N.C. Birding Trail has slated it's final Birder Friendly Business & Birder Friendly Community Training Program for next Wednesday at the Duplin County Agricultural Service Center.

Designed for businesses and communities near the trail, this training provides tools and information to market businesses and communities to birders.

The program will highlight special needs for this niche market. Training topics include how to effectively attract birders as clients, enhancing your business and community for birders, hospitality, etiquette and conservation practices.

Founded in 2003, the N.C. Birding Trail has grown from a list of coastal observation sites to a complete map of productive bird watching locations.

With so many species calling North Carolina home, birding has become big business in the Tar Heel state. According to a 2006 survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-associated Recreation activities, Americans spent $45 billion on observing, feeding or managing wildlife.

Public meeting

MOREHEAD CITY -- The Marine Fisheries Commission will meet Nov. 5-7 at the Ramada Inn in Kill Devil Hills. The public is invited to attend.

The commission is scheduled to adopt amendments to the state's Red Drum Fishery Management Plan, along with rules to implement the amended plan.

Other agenda items include an update of Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council decisions impacting the state's spiny dogfish, smooth dogfish and American eel fisheries.

The meeting begins with a public comment period at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and continues with a business session at 9 a.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. Friday. For more information contact the Marine Fisheries Commission Office at (252) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632.

Planning help needed

RALEIGH -- The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is asking North Carolinians what types of outdoor recreation facilities they would most enjoy as existing and new state parks are developed during the next five years.

An online survey is being conducted through Nov. 7 as part of the state parks system's development of a new five-year system-wide plan. The survey can be found linked from the home page of the division's Web site at www.ncparks.gov.

The 1987 State Parks Act requires five-year plans for the state parks system to efficiently meet its mission of outdoor recreation, conservation and environmental education and to spot trends in the use of the state parks.