Numbers

I for one, as an ordinary Birder and not someone involved in survey work, would find it really helpful to attend a workshop/ talk on estimating bird numbers. Counting a few hundred birds is one thing but I expect a whole different technique is required when it comes to estimating thousands with any degree of accuracy. Does anyone know of such a workshop or could this be a possible topic for the local ( for me , that means Grimsby) RSPB group?

I am not pointing my finger at anyone Jim. We can all be guilty of this. I am just trying to get a more accurate picture

Apologies - I’ve been guilty of this.

It is very frustrating when assisting with the compilation of the monthly database from this forum to come across entries with no totals. An estimated number is much better than a bland statement such as "large numbers present" When this happens I enter the total as -1 (i.e. present) Then when the bird report is written up and this is seen by the author he or she will probably ignore the record not knowing that you did indeed see a flock of 3000 brent geese dropping down on to the salt marsh.