Ted T. Cable

An analysis of consumer loyalty to municipal recreation programs

Abstract This study of participant loyalty to selected municipal recreation programs emerged from the consumer behavior literature on brand loyalty, applying the concept to a service‐oriented leisure agency. Using a two‐dimensional measure of loyalty, incorporating both a behavioral or repeat purchasing dimension and an attitudinal or commitment dimension, this study found that participants exhibited a high degree of repeat purchasing and only a moderate level of commitment to agency programs. Loyalty segmentation results demonstrated that loyal patrons were more likely to be older and have more agency experience than less loyal participants. Applications of the study to program marketing and to future research are discussed.

Simplified method for wetland habitat assessment

This article presents a wetland habitat assessment technique (HAT) using birds as indicators of habitat quality. The technique is quick, simple, inexpensive, and lends itself to screening large numbers of wetlands. HAT can provide input to more extensive evaluation techniques. Measures of species diversity and rarity are used to assess the quality of the wetland. By applying the notion of ecologically optimum size, the technique addresses the issue of economic efficiency. Results of field testing HAT on 11 tidally influenced wetlands are presented to illustrate HATs utility. Application of HAT in a variety of situations is discussed.

Wildlife-Based Recreation as Economic Windfall: A Rhetorical Analysis of Public Discourse on Birding.

Symbolic convergence theory posits that groups of like-minded people use linguistic symbols to construct a shared reality and form rhetorical visions (ways of viewing and communicating about an issue). To see how rhetorical visions might help shape public tourism policy, the authors used fantasy theme analysis to examine 206 Kansas newspaper articles dealing with birding, an increasingly popular form of wildlife-based recreation. The authors found a primary, shared rhetorical vision of birders as a potential economic engine for communities, with statistics playing a critical rhetorical function in support of tourism development. Within the vision, there were 3 primary action themes (i.e., visiting nature, doing business, and conserving) carried out or supported by 6 major character themes (or groups) in 3 primary settings (i.e., nature, developed nature centers, and birding hotspots or destinations). Action and character themes were closely related and money played an important unifying role among all 3 categories of themes. Overlap in character roles may be crucial in spreading the rhetorical vision.

Influence of nest concealment and distance to habitat edge on depredation rates of simulated grassland bird nests in southeast Kansas

Abstract Many features appear to influence avian nest success, and nest concealment and distance to habitat edge are among the most influential. We placed simulated bird nests baited with House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs in two riparian grasslands to document the influence of these two habitat characteristics on nest depredation rates. Over three trials, 49% of nests (n = 105) were depredated with a mean daily survival rate of 0.908 (± 0.012 SE). Side and overhead concealment of depredated and undisturbed nests did not differ in any consistent manner, and logistic regression models indicated that nest fate was not influenced by the amount of vegetative concealment surrounding a nest. Depredated simulated nests were closer to habitat edges than undisturbed nests during only one of three trials, suggesting nest depredation was not strongly influenced by habitat edges. Our results indicate that in simulated grassland bird nests baited with sparrow eggs, concealment may be more influential on nest fate than distance to habitat edges. We recommend that future studies of simulated songbird nests use songbird-sized eggs to insure that the potential suite of nest predators is sampled by simulated nests.

Effective Communication of Toxic Chemical Warnings to Anglers

Abstract This study addresses the following questions: (1) How do anglers know if toxic chemicals are present? (2) What information sources do anglers rely on to get information about toxic chemical contamination? (3) Who do anglers believe is responsible for warning them about toxic contamination/ (4) What communication strategies do anglers believe should be used to warn anglers of toxic chemical contamination/ Data were collected from personal interviews of 318 anglers in Michigan and 272 anglers in Kansas. The results indicated that there was not a strong consensus among anglers about any of these four issues. Thirty-nine different answers were given by anglers asked how they would know if toxic chemicals were present. In Michigan, 41.8% were erroneously relying on sensory detection of contamination, whereas in Kansas, 60.7% used sensory information to detect contaminants. An additional 27.4% of Michigan anglers and 15.1 % of Kansas anglers said they did not know how to detect contamination. The respe...

Attitudes toward state—level threatened and endangered species protection in Kansas

Abstract In addition to the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), individual states can have state—level legislation that protects species. While the ESA has high levels of public support, it was not clear that state—level programs also do. This research examined state residents’ attitudes toward a state‐level threatened and endangered species program in Kansas. Overall, high levels of support were found. Demographic differences existed, with older respondents having less favorable attitudes towards species protection. Respondents who had been required to obtain a state threatened and endangered species permit before undertaking a development project had less favorable attitudes toward the species protection program than the general public, but a majority still support having a state—level threatened and endangered species protection program.

Attitudes of Kansas Wild Turkey Hunters: National Wild Turkey Federation Members Versus Nonmembers

Private not-for-profit organizations have partnered with government agencies to promote wildlife management. The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), for example, promotes the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the hunting heritage. NWTF works with state and provincial wildlife agencies and provides an opportunity for agencies to contact NWTF members and other constituents regarding management programs. To effectively use this feedback

The Potential Impacts of Saltcedar Eradication (Tamarix sp.) on the Birds of the Cimarron National Grassland

Saltcedar (Tamarix sp.) is a non-native woody invasive species that reduces groundwater supplies. Natural resource agencies and private landowners are seeking to eradicate this exotic species from watersheds in western Kansas, including from along the Cimarron River on the Cimarron National Grasslands. Our research studied the effects of saltcedar eradication on species richness and abundance of avian populations in riparian habitats. Nine, 500-m transects were established. Three were located in areas of dense saltcedar, three were in treated areas where saltcedar had been removed, and three were in areas dominated by cottonwood (Populus deltoides). For four consecutive years (2006–2009), each of the nine transects was walked twice during the typical avian breeding season (22 May to 5 July). The number of individuals for each bird species seen or heard within 50 m of the 500-m transect line was recorded. Twenty-seven bird species were found to be nesting in saltcedar. Saltcedar eradication efforts may negatively impact local populations of these species. Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla), and Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) were found only in saltcedar-encroached areas and therefore may be particularly negatively affected by saltcedar removal. The removal of the woody vegetation created more grassland habitat thereby potentially benefiting the seven species of grassland birds found exclusively in the treated areas. Riparian areas dominated by cottonwood had the highest species richness with 36 species found, including 14 species that were found only in these areas. If successful, the current efforts of the US Forest Service (USFS) to establish and maintain cottonwood forest along the Cimarron River likely will result in significantly increased avian species richness.

Beliefs of Kansas Agricultural Producers About Riparian Areas and Wildlife Conservation

Riparian areas provide many public benefits related to water quality and biodiversity, yet in Kansas they occur almost exclusively on private agricultural land. Kansas agricultural producers were surveyed (n = 909, response rate = 39%) to assess their beliefs about riparian lands and wildlife conservation on private lands. Agricultural producers play a crucial role in conserving riparian areas. Even when presented with various compensation options, producers were ambivalent at best about adopting conservation measures such as fencing their riparian lands. Fencing was generally not used to prohibit cattle from entering the streambed, and nearly all of the agricultural producers (97%) did not plan to fence their streamside land. Two-thirds of these individuals were concerned about fence maintenance after flooding and partitioning of large tracts into smaller, less accessible parcels. The remaining one-third would fence their land if the costs of fencing (materials, labor), an alternative water supply, and a tax refund were paid by a conservation program. Most (93%), however, had not enrolled their streamside land in a conservation program within the last 3 years. About 40% of the producers had set aside land (51 acres on average) specifically to help wildlife such as quail (97%), deer (84%), pheasants (82%), songbirds (72%), and turkey (72%). Preserving wildlife for future generations (56%) and watching wildlife (52%) were “extremely important” motivations in decisions to idle land. Nearly two-thirds of those who did not set aside land for wildlife were concerned about trespassing. Only 20% of the landowners would sign a 10-year lease at current rental values to set aside their riparian land for wildlife. About three-fourths (74%) of the respondents were unwilling to lease land for