birding-aus

RE: [BIRDING-AUS] mathematics and birding

To: "'John Leonard'" <>, "'Canberra Birds'" <>, "'Birding-aus'" <>
Subject: RE: [BIRDING-AUS] mathematics and birding
From: "Colin Driscoll" <>
Date: Sat, 28 May 2005 17:57:29 +1000
There's another P formula that goes like this:
 
P = p+t(long)
 
where p is the position of the bird on a branch such that its head is obscured or its tail is always presented to the person trying to identify it and t is the length of time spent in this position before flying away.
 
Happy frustrating birding!
 
Colin Driscoll
 


From: [ On Behalf Of John Leonard
Sent: Saturday, 28 May 2005 5:22 PM
To: Canberra Birds; Birding-aus
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] mathematics and birding

There's a telephone wire at the back of our yard and King Parrots often fly through and perch on it. I've been trying, so far without success, to take a picture of them as they sit there.

I've decided from my observations there their behaviour can be summed up in a mathemtical formula, and this can probably apply to all birds and their perching behaviour:

P = f - .5sec

where P is 'the time spent perched' (measure in seconds) and f is 'the amount of time required to pick up the camera, turn it on, fiddle around and frame the bird' (also measured in seconds).

--
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net
<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU