Thank you gentlemen - it's a learning curve, as they say!

Basically, the big flocks are estimated and the smaller flocks are counted exactly. The totals are then added together to give the overall 'total'. For instance, one estimated flock of 300 plus two smaller counted flocks of 18 and 8 gives a full total of 326.

You're not the first to ask this and it did start a bit of a debate last time about its accuracy. In my own opinion though it is the best method to record large numbers.

Paul, it is a subject which has puzzled others before you and the simple answer is that the counts are not of one large flock but of many smaller ones (which are much easier to count precisely) which are added up throughout the period of observation leading to the total figure.

Well somebody has to ask the naive novice's questions......

I've been intrigued for a good while with the talent people have for counting flocks of birds - especially of course the people who do the VisMig watches.

This question was triggered by today's report from the Horwich Moors of three thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine woodpigeon.
Not 4,000
Nor 3,398


How DO they do THAT?


Thanks!

Paul

PS: No slur intended on any poster of bird-counts - just intrigued is all!

-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Sunday 11th of November 2012 10:21:01 PM