OT Things to ponder

[jwolf]

How do you know all the birds of one type were distinct? Or does it matter?

[geofflambert]

I try and identify gender in species that are sexually dimorphic, but today was a dreary day and the lighting was inadequate to confidently make such identification comprehensively. Meaning I had difficulty telling female House Sparrows from House Finches and they were flitting about back and forth and here to fro and I could only count them if I could positively identify them, and in today's lighting that meant getting a clear look at them through binoculars, and there were just too many of them today. So I wrote down what I was absolutely sure of and that will be collated with what I see tomorrow. I got a pretty good representations of the usual suspects but had a highly unusual visitor as well. I've only laid eyeballs on one of this species once before, not saying it isn't common, it ranges over both North and South America, I just haven't seen it and known what I was seeing but once before. It just came in to get a sip of water from one of my bird baths, but frightened off about 14 Mourning Doves that were foraging in my yard. It's certainly big enough to take a dove but mostly feeds on songbirds and small rodents. A beautiful bird, an American Kestrel. It was at my bird bath so shortly that I barely put my binocs on it and it flew off. I dearly would have liked to get a pic of it. Here's a couple of pics I Googled so you could see what a gorgeous babe it is.

[geofflambert]

Now here's a pic I took of one last year on a day with heavy fog.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

How do you know all the birds of one type were distinct? Or does it matter?

The rule is that you count the largest number of whatever species you can see at one time. Therefor you must positively identify every individual you are counting. For practical purposes, if you can't certify that a bird was a female House Finch versus a female House Sparrow, you can't count it at all. Today I was dead certain I saw two female House Finches at the same time. There were scores of small birds out there at the same time and there was no way I could count them all. I could only count the ones I could positively identify and tally the largest number of them that I could see and identify at the same time.

[geofflambert]

Sounds a lot like Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, but the job is you must both know the identity of the species and the number of them at the same time. You can do it but identity is paramount and number fleeting.

[jwolf]

Heh, thanks for the clarification and the nod to Heisenberg. The Kestrel is indeed a beauty.

[MakeeLearn]

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle

No uncertainty - that curbside nest will get them all squashed!

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

ORIGINAL: jwolf

How do you know all the birds of one type were distinct? Or does it matter?

The rule is that you count the largest number of whatever species you can see at one time. Therefor you must positively identify every individual you are counting. For practical purposes, if you can't certify that a bird was a female House Finch versus a female House Sparrow, you can't count it at all. Today I was dead certain I saw two female House Finches at the same time. There were scores of small birds out there at the same time and there was no way I could count them all. I could only count the ones I could positively identify and tally the largest number of them that I could see and identify at the same time.

Thank you for sharing this. And your figures above.

I am somewhat surprised that you didn't have to report the largest total number of birds you could see at the same time.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

I try and identify gender in species that are sexually dimorphic, but today was a dreary day and the lighting was inadequate to confidently make such identification comprehensively. Meaning I had difficulty telling female House Sparrows from House Finches and they were flitting about back and forth and here to fro and I could only count them if I could positively identify them, and in today's lighting that meant getting a clear look at them through binoculars, and there were just too many of them today. So I wrote down what I was absolutely sure of and that will be collated with what I see tomorrow. I got a pretty good representations of the usual suspects but had a highly unusual visitor as well. I've only laid eyeballs on one of this species once before, not saying it isn't common, it ranges over both North and South America, I just haven't seen it and known what I was seeing but once before. It just came in to get a sip of water from one of my bird baths, but frightened off about 14 Mourning Doves that were foraging in my yard. It's certainly big enough to take a dove but mostly feeds on songbirds and small rodents. A beautiful bird, an American Kestrel. It was at my bird bath so shortly that I barely put my binocs on it and it flew off. I dearly would have liked to get a pic of it. Here's a couple of pics I Googled so you could see what a gorgeous babe it is.

A very good looking bird.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Orm needs his fix.

Yea, now I am good for a while. [:)]

Thank you for sharing. [&o]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

Heisenbird's uncertainty principle

Fixed your caption for you.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

Heisenbird's uncertainty principle

Fixed your caption for you.

[:D]

[&o]

[Zorch]

We are not amused.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

We are not amused.

Indeed

[BBfanboy]

Let's hear from the authorities ....

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

ORIGINAL: jwolf

How do you know all the birds of one type were distinct? Or does it matter?

The rule is that you count the largest number of whatever species you can see at one time. Therefor you must positively identify every individual you are counting. For practical purposes, if you can't certify that a bird was a female House Finch versus a female House Sparrow, you can't count it at all. Today I was dead certain I saw two female House Finches at the same time. There were scores of small birds out there at the same time and there was no way I could count them all. I could only count the ones I could positively identify and tally the largest number of them that I could see and identify at the same time.

Thank you for sharing this. And your figures above.

I am somewhat surprised that you didn't have to report the largest total number of birds you could see at the same time.

That would be impossible, even for humans, because they're all moving all the time. Now gorns can only count as high as 99 and I have no doubt there have been more than that in my backyard at once, at least once, but no more than on 99 occasions, I think.

[witpqs]

Do Gorns count the birds as they swallow them?

[MakeeLearn]

"You Screaming to me? You Screaming to me? You Screaming to me? Then who the hell else are you Screaming... you Screaming to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the cluck do you think you're Screaming to? Oh yeah? OK."

[geofflambert]

Let me check my records ...

Yes, here is one. There were a bunch of birds, I can recall lots of doves and sparrows and finches. Then a flock of starlings arrived. I'm quite sure there were 99 birds total, or at least that number anyway.