birdsoup

WasWas Doug wrong? Or was I?
Asjdjdjdjdl it turns out we were both right. We were looking at two different birds. Both were about the same distance away, at the same height in a tree, both definitely herons. But one was on the right bank of the Bronx River, the other on the left side.
We both were sure the other was misidentifying the bird. We each knew what we were seeing and any other ID was wrong.
This situation illustrate the importance of being able to describe exactly where a bird is so that others can follow you directions. How many times have you heard: “It’s in that tree.” “On the big branch.” Both may be true but not helpful as directions.
Imagine someone saying “I saw a yellow bird. What was it?” Someone else says “a small bird, smaller than a sparrow, bright yellow with black wings, 2 white wing bars and a black cap” Now you have enough information on which to base a solid ID
More details are better in describing a bird or providing directions to find a bird. The more specific and detailed your directions, the faster others can find the bird. The tall maple tree to right of the shed. About 10 feet to the left of the trunk on the lowest horizontal branch.
Get in the habit of being precise in describing the location of a bird.
Was Doug wrong? Or was I?
As it turns out we were both right. We were looking at two different birds. Both were about the same distance away, at the same height in a tree, both definitely herons. But one was on the right bank of the Bronx River, the other on the left side.
We both were sure the other was misidentifying the bird. We each knew what we were seeing and any other ID was wrong.
This situation illustrate the importance of being able to describe exactly where a bird is so that others can follow you directions. How many times have you heard: “It’s in that tree.” “On the big branch.” Both may be true but not helpful as directions.
Imagine someone saying “I saw a yellow bird. What was it?” Someone else says “a small bird, smaller than a sparrow, bright yellow with black wings, 2 white wing bars and a black cap” Now you have enough information on which to base a solid ID
More details are better in describing a bird or providing directions to find a bird. The more specific and detailed your directions, the faster others can find the bird. The tall maple tree to right of the shed. About 10 feet to the left of the trunk on the lowest horizontal branch.
Get in the habit of being precise in describing the location of a bird.
Doug wrong? Or was I?
As it turns out we were both right. We were looking at two different birds. Both were about the same distance away, at the same height in a tree, both definitely herons. But one was on the right bank of the Bronx River, the other on the left side.
We both were sure the other was misidentifying the bird. We each knew what we were seeing and any other ID was wrong.
This situation illustrate the importance of being able to describe exactly where a bird is so that others can follow you directions. How many times have you heard: “It’s in that tree.” “On the big branch.” Both may be true but not helpful as directions.
Imagine someone saying “I saw a yellow bird. What was it?” Someone else says “a small bird, smaller than a sparrow, bright yellow with black wings, 2 white wing bars and a black cap” Now you have enough information on which to base a solid ID
More details are better in describing a bird or providing directions to find a bird. The more specific and detailed your directions, the faster others can find the bird. The tall maple tree to right of the shed. About 10 feet to the left of the trunk on the lowest horizontal branch.
Get in the habit of being precise in describing the location of a bird.