The reason I asked that, is you are using the resources, state parks, etc just as a hunter would. And a hunting license is the most useful conservation tool that you can buy. It pays to restore parks, etc, pays the game wardens, and everything else. And typically, unfortunately, birders do more damage to an area than a responsible hunter does. And it's sad that a birder goes into nature, uses the resources and never pays anything for it. Where as a hunter goes into nature, uses the resources the same, but pays for it.
Don't think you're correct. Hunters actually take resources...wild animals. Game wardens - a large part of their job is to essentially monitor hunters and poachers (I'm not saying poachers are same as hunters...they're not) and protect wildlife from over harvesting .
Birders just observe...wildlife photographers just take photographs.
I can't for the life of me see how birders do more damage or any damage to an area ?