Web Site Strategy Targets Growing Interest In Bird Watching

The Honourable Don MacKinnon, Minister of Development, announced today that the province has launched a web page devoted to birding in Prince Edward Island.

"I am delighted that we have expanded the content of the province's web site to include pages on birding," says Minister MacKinnon. "Working in cooperation with the Department of Technology and Environment's Fish and Wildlife Division, we have prepared new pages of information highlighting bird attractions in the province. By placing a Birders' Checklist on-line, birders can access a list of 333 species of birds that can be seen in the province. The new web page also encourages birders to create their own checklists and view some pictures of PEI birds."

Minister MacKinnon notes that birding is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities. "The Department of Development's recently released Studio Tour Map also shows the locations of the most popular birding locations in the province. These maps will help raise the awareness of bird watching opportunities in PEI and have been distributed widely throughout the province. We are planning on adding more content to the birding web site in the near future," Minister MacKinnon noted.

"Birders are a fast-growing component of the tourism industry in PEI," says Kevin J. MacAdam, Minister of Tourism and Fisheries. "The renewed interest in eco-tourism continues and we are hopeful that the new web page on the province's web site will attract more tourists to PEI who have an interest in birding. For further information, visit www.gov.pe.ca/birds.