EAGLE-eyed birdwatchers will provide an important tourism boost to the Gannawarra and Loddon Shires when COVID-19 travel restrictions begin to lift.

Simon Starr, who runs birdwatching tours throughout Victoria and lived in Loddon Shire for 18 years, said about half of his birdwatching bookings came from domestic travellers, many of those from locked down Melbourne.

"It's not a huge industry, bir...