[wisb] Re: Counting Bohemian Waxwings
- From: brightw@xxxxxxx
- To: ryanbrady10@xxxxxxxxxxx,"wisbirdn" <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:56:20 +0000
Interesting observation Ryan.
After thinking about it, I could not recall a single time that I have
overestimated the number in a flock that I had time to actually count after
making the estimate. That isn't Bohemians, which I have counted only once, it
is flocks of any species.
When I estimate, I usually mentally plot a size of a certain number -- usually
10 birds -- and then use that size to plot the rest of the flock.
Bill Bright
Iola, Waupaca County
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the Element Mobile Network.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ryan Brady <ryanbrady10@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sender: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:06:51
To: <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: ryanbrady10@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wisb] Counting Bohemian Waxwings
Hi folks, this is more a cautionary heads-up than anything else but with all
the Bohemian Waxwing reports of 100, 250, 300 birds etc. and plenty more to be
seen yet this winter and spring I'm curious as to whether folks are making
actual counts, systematic estimates, or gross estimates of overall flock size?
In my experience, birders (myself included) vastly underestimate flock size in
this species, often upwards of 40-70%, i.e. a flock estimated at 100 often has
140-170+ birds. Don't ask me why but without alot of experience it's very
difficult to correctly gauge numbers of this species without actually counting,
or at least more systematically estimating (e.g. 5, 10, 20 birds at a time).
So I challenge you the next time you're up north to first estimate flock size
as we often do and then make an actual count. My money says there will be far
more birds than you thought!
Ryan Brady
Washburn, Bayfield County, WI
http://www.pbase.com/rbrady
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