Texan Makes Money "Ranching" Hummingbirds

Texan Makes Money "Ranching" Hummingbirds AG WORLD 25-2-23 Rancher Dan Brown isn't your everyday Texas cowboy. He starts out each day in the spring and summer mixing up a batch of sugar water and filling feeders for the estimated 3,000 hummingbirds that reside on or around his ranch. Most surprising of all, he's figured out a way to make money off the little feathered creatures. Brown and his wife Joann also feed Angus cattle on their 3,000-acre spread near Christoval Texas, but they say it's the hummingbirds that really bring in the bucks. The thousands of hummingbirds that visit the Brown ranch each year are only exceeded by the number of people. What started out as a hobby with a single hummingbird feeder nearly 30 years ago has become a business attraction with up to 22 feeders that each hold more than half a gallon of sugar water. "Nature tourism is fantastic in this region, primarily because 97 percent of our state is privately owned and the few parks we have are maxed out," says Brown. The state of Texas works with Brown and other ranchers to open up the front gates, let the public in and gain a good cash flow. "Nature-related tourism is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry," says Linda Campbell, nature tourism coordinator, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. "Interest in nature tourism is growing in Texas, as rural communities look for ways to diversify local economies and landowners look for ways to diversify ranch income." While Brown prefers not to share income figures from the operation, business has been good enough for him to expand. After the San Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau asked if he would take busload sized tour groups, Brown built a 15 by 30-ft. air conditioned observation room, complete with a bathroom. The handicapped accessible, glass enclosed viewing room seats up to 50 people at $5 per head and includes reference materials for more serious birdwatchers. Brown has also built "Hummer House", a two bedroom stone cottage, complete with kitchen, sitting room and bath. Plans are under way for additional cottages. Guests get lodging and access to an equipped and well stocked refrigerator and pantry for rates starting at $100 for a couple. Of course, what guests are really paying for is the close-up view of the four species of hummingbirds and countless other wildlife that visit the ranch. Situated in a north/south river valley ideal for migrating birds, the ranch, with its oak trees, old pecan orchard and river shallows, offers perfect bird habitat. Since 1995, nearly 9,500 birds representing 97 species have been banded on Brown's property. In the evening, deer and wild turkey come up to the ranch buildings looking for the shelled corn he puts out, still another draw for paying visitors. "The majority of our clientele are senior citizens," says Brown. "They are looking for a good experience, and we are careful to provide that." To ensure the experience, Brown mixed up nearly 700 lbs. of sugar with water this past year. He also provided nesting material; unbleached cotton is the hummers favorite, he says. The groups of deer and flocks of wild turkey, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, are attracted by the 25 tons of shelled corn Brown sets out every year. Brown does very little advertising, letting word of mouth and the regular flow of TV crews and magazine writers who cover his operation provide most of his promotion. Last year he had five different TV crews do stories on his hummingbirds. That is publicity he couldn't afford to buy. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dan Brown, Box 556, Christoval, Texas 76935 (ph 915 255-2254; fax 915 255-2463; Website: www.hummerhouse-texasgems.com).

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