I hope you've noticed that bird on the far left, between the 3nd and 4th post from the left and just a smidgin higher than the wall. But what's the probability of that bird getting seen by a living soul in its entire lifetime ? Or any bird for that matter. To answer that question, we need to know how many individual birds there are in the world .... (we know ± how many species there are. . between 8000 and 9000 ) But has anybody got any idea at all of the number of individual birds in't world ? I doubt it. But there is some stuff about that number on't net .... But before reading on, have a think about it. Try to make a rough estimate/ballpark figure . And bear in mind that none of the "billions" quoted below by various sources specify whether they are UK or US billions .... they're very different. 5,000,000,000,000 and 5,000,000,000 are quite a bit different. Oh yes. Source A ..... This figure (the number of individual birds in the world) can only be guessed at. Most scientists agree with the bird expert James Fisher, who estimates that there are about 100 billion birds. Of that number, about 6 billion are said to make their home in the United States. When scientists try to estimate how many different kinds of birds there are, they run into trouble. Not everybody agrees on what bird belongs to what species. The number most people agree on is 8,600 different species on earth. Of these, the United States has 650 different kinds. Whoever said the world is for the birds wasn’t too far wrong. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SOURCE B .... It’s a simple enough question: “How many birds are there on Earth?” Not how many different species, but how many different individual birds? Despite the simplicity of this question, arriving at an answer is incredibly difficult. For one thing, birds are very mobile and they tend to move around a lot. Not just the daily flying around their territory but also the annual, long-distance migrations that many bird species undertake. The fact that the same species can occur in different areas of the planet complicates the ability of scientists to keep track bird numbers. For example, a page of illustrations of warblers from “The Birds of Canada” will have the exact same species as a page from “The Birds of Costa Rica”, because, while these warbler species spend most of the year in Costa Rica, they also breed in the boreal forests of Canada. Another complicating factor in arriving at an estimate of the global bird population is that counting birds is not nearly as easy as it seems. It may be straightforward to count the number of birds of each species which come to your backyard feeder during the course of the day. But it is much more difficult to count the same kinds of birds in dense forest, or to count birds who nest in huge colonies with hundreds of thousands of birds. Even getting an accurate count of a large flock of birds flying overhead, like blackbirds or shorebirds, can prove difficult. Here’s an illustration of just how hard counting birds can be. During the 1980’s and 1990’s, a bird biologist undertook a detailed survey of forest birds in the dense jungles of Peru. Each year, he set up mist nets (which are very fine nets designed to catch small birds without harming them) in the same sites along jungle trails. After 15 years, he thought he had a pretty good idea as to the number of birds of each species in that forest during Peru’s rainy, winter season. Then a colleague suggested he set up a rope system to raise the long mist nets off the ground and up into the forest canopy. This was, after all, a jungle with several, dense canopy layers. He undertook the suggestion to prove that he really did have a good handle on the birds of the forest. What he found within 30 minutes of raising the net was that there was an entire community of bird species he did not know were present, despite the fact he had worked in the forest for almost two decades. Because of the difficulties not only with counting the birds we know about but even finding all the birds in a given area, scientists believe it is impossible to know with any real degree of accuracy just how many birds there are on Earth. However, that certainly does not stop many scientists and bird biologists from trying to come up with reasonable estimates of the global bird population. The most abundant wild bird is considered to be the Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea), a songbird from the Weaver family. This species is found only in Africa, from the sub-Saharan region down to South Africa, and is considered a serious pest on agricultural crops. Research done by scientists on this species puts their total population at around 1.5 billion birds. However, the most common bird in the world may well be the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus), which has evolved over the last few centuries to become known as our domestic chicken. Since every human society on earth consumes chicken to some degree, it is possible this domesticated species is the most widespread bird, and accurate estimates of their global numbers are almost impossible to calculate. A British ornithologist, James Fisher, speculated back in 1951 that the most common seabird in the world was probably the Wilson’s Storm Petrel, and the most common land bird was the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). He chose the House Sparrow over the Red-billed Quelea because the House Sparrow had been transported all over the world by European settlers and could now be found on about two-thirds of the world’s land mass. They are also a very successful species, becoming abundant wherever they spread. On the basis of these assumptions, and the currently available knowledge at the time, Fisher estimated the global bird population at more than 100 billion birds. However, the true number of birds on earth will always be an elusive figure. Perhaps as elusive and mysterious as the birds themselves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Source C .... a sort of " practical, man-in-the-street" approach... but his final calculation is cack. Lots of those birds will have been seen many other people. Now, if you ask what is the number of birds, individual birds, which are there. No one call answer you with certainty. So, I give up. But not before trying!!! We are 7 billion human beings walking on this planet. How many birds would you be coming across/passing by each day? For each human being, there would be say, 100 birds. The Bird population would be 700 Billion then. Pure guesswork. Some sites say it's between 100-400 Billion. Too big a range and number to say anything than 'May be'. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I think it's a very healthy thing that we don't know. But having read all that, tomorrow I'll try to count the number of individual birds I see . And the good thing is, I've no idea what that total will be ! Maybe you could try the same thing . Maybe you could tell me what you got › seasidebar@mailcom And then maybe I could do something with those results. It would probably involve multiplying them by something or other.... maybe. BUT ... before making your own attempt, read this next bit ..... Later..... well, the next morning. I've tried counting how many individual birds I see ... and it's only 0840 and I've seen 287 already . Seriously. No kidding. I can't carry on like that ! My brain will probably melt down into a little grey pellet of mush. I might have to buy a new pencil. Source C seems to be underestimating things considerably with his/her "100 per day . ..anyhow, it is music time ..... ........ and I ask myself .... if I'm seeing them, are they seeing me ?
0 Comments
If you are one of the lucky, lucky people who haven't even heard of all this " making a list of UK birds but in anagram dictionary" format, but happen to have unfortunately stumbled upon this post, I suggest you zip back 2 posts to see what it is all about. The mathematicians among you will already have worked out that that's #556....... OK .... assuming you've done that ... Well .... you've had the first 6 birds in the "anagrammed bird list" ... ... and very gripping it was too ... a really close thing. ...... already hundreds of people have emailed their gratitude for it. .... but finding the birds that would be right at the end of the list was in some ways tougher. .... the technique is ..... find birds with short names they're less likely to have those early-alphabet letters in them. you don't want them ! root out all those birds with abcde ... in them. that gets rid of nearly everything.... .... see what you're left with. ... not a lot !!! So ...here's what I've found ... this is ( according to me) the fag end of the entire list ... FFINPU Puffin ( I think we should call it that in future) FFRU Ruff FISTW Swift GHHNORSSTV Song Thrush ( it sounds Russian if you say it) GILLORUVY Ivory Gull ( so does that) GLLORSSSU Ross's Gull ( and that) IIKNSS Siskin ( Icelandic) IILLOTTWW Willow Tit ( Esperanto) KNOT Knot ! KOOR Rook LNOOSWWY Snowy Owl ( the very last bird ... I reckon.) As you have seen, this is an entirely different sort of list to all those ones at the top of the list. This is mainly because common birds tend to have short names. And rare birds tens to have longer names. They nearly always have an a or e . Quite often loads of them. I was pretty amazed and spogglified as the two lists diverged ! They're all so short .... none of that AAAABCDDEEGHIKLLTW rubbish ! I was a bit sad that GLMOPWYY didn't make it. It's not on the UK list apparently. I'll leave you to work out what it is. But the big, unsolved mystery remains ... .... what about all that lot in between ? ..... does anybody know ? And you'd be absolutely AMAZED at the % of UK birds that have A and/or E in them. There's hardly any at all left once you've kicked them out. Which made my life a lot easier. I feel quite proud to have worked out this tiny part of what no doubt will become a handsome volume to add to the birding literature . Maybe I'm amazed ! This is a long shot ...but .... if you're currently in a French forest trying to spot French forest birds, here's all you need to know in a simple " cut-out-and-keep" format. Yep ! you're sorted. But the truth is, that was a "fall-back" all-purpose post ..one of a huge battery of them I keep in the back of the wardrobe in case the "proper" thing doesn't materialise. And today it didn't. I had prepared an interesting " part 2" of my thing about bird-spotting le Tour de France ..and on stage 12, at last, there was not only a pigeon but also a magnificent Eagle which appeared surprisingly early on. So I made a slow-mo film of it ... excellent ... but when I tried to stick it on youtube as the preliminary step to putting it on here for your enjoyment it told me my password was wrong . Oh no it wasn't ! No ,no and definitely NO ! So I decided to get onto youtube afresh ..and that was going fine, but when it got to the "emailed verifying code" I dutifully copied and pasted it into place AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE WRONG BLOODY CODE. Oh no it wasn't. Anyway ... I'm going to sort it out. Maybe. But at least a small % of my readers who happen to be birding in the French forests will now know what they're doing, thanks to my forward thinking. It's important to get things in perspective and keep your trivial worries from your mind your thoughts should be most carefully selective and a state of blissfull harmony you'll find ..... I asked you all a bit ago about what an alphabetically ordered list of anagrammed birds would look like. It's a big hole in avian knowledge. In particular, what would be the birds right at the start of the list ? And what would be the birds at the end ? Vital stuff ! It's probably a good idea to read what I wrote .... here's the link .. 543-an-avian-anagram-assignment.html Still not sure what I mean ? .... Wren would appear as enrw Crow would appear as corw Magpie would be aegimp Rook would be koor ... so if they were the only birds in the UK ... .... let's face it, it might happen..... .... what with Brexit and Wobal Glorming and things ... .... this would be the alphabetically ordered list ... aegimp corw enrw koor In real life, of course, the list will be a bit longer. I'm going to stick to the "First" birds in the list first. They're easier to find, for a start ( no pun intended). The very last ones in the list are a totally different eekltt fo fhis ...as you will see. I soon realised that all I had to do was find ... ...birds with lots of a's in their names. ..... and it didn't take me long to find some ... So ..here's what I think are the top 6 birds right at the start of the list ...... [1] AAAABCDDEEGHIKLLTW ... that's Black Headed Wagtail ... (sub-sp ?) FIRST ! [2] AAAABEEGHLLLOPPPRRRRSSSSW .... Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler. (OK) [3] AAAACDKLLNRR Calandra Lark (OK) [4] AAAACEHHIKMMNRRSW ..... American Marsh Hawk( sub-sp ?) [5] AAAADDEEGHHILSTWY ...... Ashy Headed Wagtail ( Sub-sp ?) [6] AAAADEEHHLMNPRSSSTTY ...... Lady Amherst's Pheasant (OK) You've got to admit, that's a really useful breakthrough. Who would have thought they were mostly long, obscure birds ? It's what we've all been waiting for. How have we managed without such a thing ? However .... there's a complication ! ...some are regarded as subspecies. .... other are "Category" birds .... Category A, Category B .... and all that. ...... but what the hell .... we're only having a bit of fun. ....... aren't we ? The main thing is, I've found a relevant song. Most of my waking hours are used up trying to "track" them down. Ho-ho. So here's the one for today ...... XTC .... " Your dictionary" And don't forget .... I'm ready to show you the "last birds in the list" ..well, I think I am. And they really are a totally different subset.Remarkably so.
But there are reasons for everything. Including that. Here's one of the hordes that have descended upon us ! Yes, hordes and hordes of Nature Lovers. Something needs to be done. There's one of those " Nature Lovers" mentioned in the article. Note the slitty eyes ! The sly grin !! The Zip-up jumper !!! All give-away signs of the Nature Lover.. Stage 3 ! Yes ! Once in every million years, 10 Painted Lady butterflies arrive in the UK en masse, only to be spotted by blasted Nature Lovers. En masse !! Run for the hills !! I think I've got that right. WE are all being urged, as Members of the Public, to spot and record the details of any Nature Lover they encounter in their garden or local park. Keep an eye open for those Field Marks I mentioned above. Sketches, diagrams and extensive field notes are essential. Even better ,try to nudge them into a large sturdy box and lock them in. Then you can post them to me at [email protected] And I will pass them on to the authorities. Time is running out. Start now. It's the only real way we can record their numbers and try to reduce them. It's not enough, but it's a start. Which gives me the opportunity to play this fine song again .... An End has a Start I've written a gentle parody of a well-known poem ..... and here it is .. I must go down to the sea again, to spot a Skua or Diver, And all I ask is an onshore wind, for that I'd pay a fiver, for a chance of a tick, and the Phalarope's song and the white of a distant wave breaking, with no sign of mist on the briny's face, and the rivals I'll be overtaking ! I must go down to the sea again, for the thrill of the incoming tide And the wild call, and the clear call, of a Gannet on the glide, And all I ask, is an Ivory Gull, its white wings flying, And a close-in Kumlien's gliding by, my first after years of trying ! I must go down to the sea again,for the vagrant skimming by and the Tern's way, and the Shearwater's way, for me alone to spy, And all I ask is a merry yarn about someone who's dipped a mega, and the flung spume, and the blowing spray that's made me such a jammy beggar ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well, 'tis question time, just like when you were "doing" poems at school . [a] What's the difference between a "gentle parody" and " taking the piss" ? [b] Which category would you put my effort in ? [a] Cathartic [b] Cynical [c] Cyclical [d Clinical [e] Chronic [f] Caustic [g] Cack [c] What was the "original" ? [d] And who wrote it ? [e] Is mine "better" than his ? [a] Yes [b] Certainly [c] Obviously. [d] No [f] Why ? [g] Why not ? [h] Are you going to "do" something similar ? [i] And then send it to me at [email protected] [j] And if not, why not ? Phew ! T'is music time .... but what ? Who could top my rekaramble thingy ? Neil Young .... " On the Beach " If you want to see the original, so that you can realise how brilliant but also affectionate and redolent and terrific my parody is, of course, you'll find it just about a smidgin after this mildly amazing picture .... Sea Fever by John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. This all started with this post ..... here's the link to it .... 548-the-flat-controller-has-to-improvise.html ... and this .... 552-the-flat-controllers-weighing-chart.html As you will realise, I've been a busy old Hector ! And ... here it is at last ... the fabulous, remarkable and new-to-the-world weighing chart totally sorted and marvellous ..... with a little bit of colouring-in revealing the hidden patterns in what at first might seem a confusing mish-mash of old tripe. The "bird" side The " other" side. So those "weighing arrangements" have a lovely underlying pattern to them. It was all "A Question of Balance" really. As are most things in this mysterious Universe. Needless to say, I've slid an "anonymous" print-out of it for The Flat Controller. And now, a bit of very subtly relevant music ......... I know what you're all thinking .... "If you only had 5 weights, 1g, 3g, 9g, 27g AND 81g ...... .... can you weigh any bird up to 121 grams ? " Cripes ! To fully appreciate what's going on in this bit, you need to have a read of a post I did short way back ..... here's the link to it .... 548-the-flat-controller-has-to-improvise.html I did promise you that I would show you if and how you could weigh any bird up to 40 grams using just a balance and 4 weights ... 1g, 3g, 9g and 27 g. I know you will all have been desperate to find out if it can be done. It's the sort of thing you feel you should know. And here is that explanation .... I thought it would be a nice idea to draw up a weighing chart for The Flat Controller ... and here it is in all its primitive glory ! Well, there's two bits actually. And it is packed with lovely drawings by fabulous me ! It's got birds of increasing weight ( 1g -40g) and it shows you which of the four weights ( 1g, 3g, 9g, 27g) you put where. So, for example, to weigh a 20 gram bird you put the 1g and 9g on the bird's side, and the 3g and 27g on the other side. Hunky-Dory. And on the right side of the second section there's a sort of "summary chart" you could cut-out-and-keep and pop it in your pocket so you would be ready for any, er, situation. I've posted it through his letter-box anonymously. Otherwise he would no doubt have showered me with praise and numerous extravagant gifts. That's the way he is. And here's an odd thing ... The Significant Otter had a look that lovely chart and said ... " Are they real birds ?" Has all I have taught her been for nothing ? Er ..... yes. But now ..... some suitable music..... ..a fine Bowie song from Hunky Dory .... his best album I reckon ... And I've nearly finished an even swisher version of the chart minus all the scribbly-out bits and I'm going to colour it in ! Wowzers. It reveals all the subtle mathematical patterns involved. It'll be specially featured on the next post. Or thereabouts ....depends on what turns up. It is a work of art, so it is...beats blasted Banksy any day. And a work of heart too. I was reading this book yesterday ... as you do .... a gripping, fully-illustrated story ( in verse throughout of course) about a school for hares run by a large tyrannical hare. They seem to do a lot of their lessons in the open air ... and on one rather "special" page we find this .... cripes !! What about that lot !! Like me, you'll be identifying them all and filling your notebooks with, er, notes. Is this what Germany is like ? Crammed with fancy-looking stuff like that ? Probably not quite that bird-crammed. Probably a bit like Lithuania . I've probably mentioned my trip to Lithuania before . Probably. The Germans are pretty hare-obsessed. Häschen = a young hare .... but it can also mean a "bunny-rabbit." Here's a fine song ... Hasenherz ... " Hare Heart" = "a coward". Another reasonably short(-ish) thing.
Brief. But in German, it means a letter. MOPS ... Members Of the Public That partial lunar eclipse was a really beautiful one. Where we were it appeared over the hillside* horizon at about 10:30 ish looking like a big orange boat sitting on the hillside ..... but not on my pathetic photographs. Though you can, should you wish to, blow them up by holding down the Ctrl key and whizzing that mouse-wheel round. What happens on Macs I don't know. ..and I've no idea what happened on this one .... well, I tried to use the "blowy-up-thing. Quite a few local people turned up, and got a gawp at it through my binoculars that have been to Lithuania, have I ever mentioned that, and went "oooh" and "aaah" and I kindly pointed out Jupiter and Saturn to them in a "mansplaining" sort of way, and a female Tawny Owl was making its noises up in the wood, and bats whizzed by our earholes. Why didn't I bring my jellyscope ? Well .... as you all know, when you bring your telescope, it rains. So I didn't, and it didn't. Spode's Law. What music goes with that then ? Moon River ? The Planets ? Nope. Proper music ... that's what we want....... * It is a drumlin actually .....
.....not just any old hillside. |
AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
|