I am doing a pigeon count tomorrow - for research for a book that I am planning to write: "Pigeons over Sheffield".

Obviously, I need a fairly accurate count of the pigeon population of Sheffield, and in order to do this I need to ascertain the total number of nomadic pigeons that frequent Sheffield, but don't actually live here permanently.

Does anyone one have any information on this? Once I can establish a figure, I can subtract it from my total.

If anyone cares to asist me in my count: here is what you have to do. For every pigeon you see tomorrow, multiply this figure by 131.7. I have worked out that this will give me an accurate figure for the population of the city.

Then all I have to do is divide that figure by the number of people who helped me, and then deduct the nomadic pigeons from the sum.

That will then give me the pigeon population for sheffield.

Results can be posted here after 6:00pm tomorrow evening.

Thank you everyone.

Or you could just count their legs, and half it.:loopy:

Yes, if you'd like to do it that way, please go ahead. I almost forgot to say that pigeons counted before dawn tomorrow morning WON'T count.

Can't SM, just realised most of our pigeons have only got one and a half legs and I can't do fractions. Sorry I can't help anymore.:rolleyes:

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
I am doing a pigeon count tomorrow - for research for a book that I am planning to write: "Pigeons over Sheffield".



Hang on a minute, you're saying:
... I need to ascertain the total number of nomadic pigeons that frequent Sheffield, but don't actually live here permanently.

and

here is what you have to do. For every pigeon you see tomorrow, multiply this figure by 131.7. I have worked out that this will give me an accurate figure for the population of the city. Then all I have to do is divide that figure by the number of people who helped me, and then deduct the nomadic pigeons from the sum.

That will then give me the pigeon population for sheffield..

When is it published?

Just for the record, what time is dawn tomorrow? Not that it will matter to me because it's unlikely I'll be up before that time.

Also while we're on the subject, wouldn't this depend on the amount of seconds/minutes/hours that you spend outside? For example, a street cleaner is liable to see a great deal more pigeons than a lazy student who spends half the day in bed. I think this should be taken into consideration.

Counting birds at the crack of Dawn.

Hmmmm, where will this be taking place, I'd like to watch?

Originally posted by Sidla
Just for the record, what time is dawn tomorrow? Not that it will matter to me because it's unlikely I'll be up before that time.

Also while we're on the subject, wouldn't this depend on the amount of seconds/minutes/hours that you spend outside? For example, a street cleaner is liable to see a great deal more pigeons than a lazy student who spends half the day in bed. I think this should be taken into consideration.

Oh, yes: I forgot about that particular variable.

Just count them, let me know how much time you spent outside, and I'll work something out. Also, could you note whether each bird was actually airborn on being counted or actually standing on the World.

Thanks.

As for the book, I haven't actually written anything yet - I only thought the idea up on Sunday, I need to do some extensive research first as I know little or nothing about the species.

Define Sheffield? Are you looking at the city centre or to the postcode boundaries or to ward boundaries?

More birds will be spotted in the city centre than in Kiveton Park!

I have just got to ask....what inspired you to do such a mad, wild and crazy thing?

I have only just seen this thread...and its 10.20am

What multiplyer should I use to take into account the lost time?


PS not seen any yet

Oh, yes. Could people please state the time that they started spotting pigeons, and at what locataions. I have a formula to work things out. If you see a flock, just estimate the number. Racing pigeons don't count, but don't worry if you include one by mistake. I am allowing for this.

The idea just came to me on Sunday, I am just interested in documenting the life and habits of the Sheffield pigeon. Hopefully my work will provide much useful information for the furtherment of this interesting species.

Oh, yes. I hadn't thought of that. Let's stick to postcode boundaries.

Keep looking out my window, but not a one!!!!

Maybe they are all down in town

Can I take a break to go for something to eat and a pee?

I will average out pigeons spotted for the 30 min break?

Is this OK?

10.20 - 12.40 - Pigeons = 0
12.40 - 13.10 - Average based on this mornings spotting = 0

Back on duty at 13.10
Yours
Pigeonless

That's fine. Off you go for your lunch. Better luck later, eh!

I am zero reted at the moment, but they have forecast a sunny afternoon, so we should be in luck.

I saw a pigeon but its appearance lead me to believe it may have been an asylum seeker. Would this count as a nomadic pigeon or should I include it in the count?

I realise now that I should conducted an Habitual Residence Test to clear the matter up but you never think of these things at the time do you? :?

Zamo

PS - I forgot to mention, it was standing on the earth.

If it was actually standing on the planet, and not hovering above it, include it in your count.

Great news! It won't be nomadic if it has such confidence. It will be a Sheffielder.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
If it was actually standing on the planet, and not hovering above it, include it in your count.

Great news! It won't be nomadic if it has such confidence. It will be a Sheffielder.
It was indeed standing on the planet, so it must have been a true Sheffielder!

I'll keep counting.

I have just got my first one, and a nice specimen it is too.

But it did take some catching, I have placed it in a small cardboard box and put some holes in the box for ventilation.

Let me know where you want it sending.

PS its coo-ing a lot and my dog is going crazy, should I release it or will this effect your count?

Just off to change my trousers;)

Release it, but wear gloves when handling the bloody feathered rat, pigeons have every disease known to man and then some in their mucky orrible feathers.

Originally posted by mikey
I have just got my first one, and a nice specimen it is too.

But it did take some catching, I have placed it in a small cardboard box and put some holes in the box for ventilation.

Let me know where you want it sending.

PS its coo-ing a lot and my dog is going crazy, should I release it or will this effect your count?

Just off to change my trousers;)

No , the idea wasn't to catch them! Just count them! Let it go, man!. Let it go!

Honestly, I would release it into the atmosphere pronto, but don't count it twice.

How do you know if the bird flying past isn't the one you counted earlier? They are all the same colour more or less and I wouldn't want to have double counted! Can you count dead ones lying by the side of the road? There's a lovely squashed one near the garages.

I saw about five on wednesday at about 3pm on the bottom of the moor. but i was eating chips. how do they know when your eating chips??????? they come out of nowhere!!!

They watch you. Ever seen the Hitchcock film 'The Birds'?

A much easier way to count them would be to shot them, all of them. and poison perhaps... very fast acting poison...
electrocution may also work, then yon can collect them all up, you get your numbers, we get less pigeons.. kill to birds with one stone so to say!!!

A book on Pigeons... Just what i always wanted... that and a chin like craig davids on my goldfish!

Originally posted by Classic Rock
How do you know if the bird flying past isn't the one you counted earlier? They are all the same colour more or less and I wouldn't want to have double counted! Can you count dead ones lying by the side of the road? There's a lovely squashed one near the garages.

Look, if you see one you thought you saw earlier, just don't count it. It's quite simple. No two pigeons are alike. Don't count dead ones unless you can be sure they were alive during the course of this study. I'd ignore that squashed one if I were you.

Originally posted by qazitory
I saw about five on wednesday at about 3pm on the bottom of the moor. but i was eating chips. how do they know when your eating chips??????? they come out of nowhere!!!

Arghhhh!! I hope you haven't counted the five from Wednesday, if you have - knock them off your total!!

The study started at dawn today and finishes in an hour.

Try parking your car somewhere near the moor after just washing it. Return in 2 hours and count the droppings. Times this by 2 and you'll have a pretty decent guesstimate of the pigeon pop cos its a fact that when you've washed your car, half the little sods in Sheffield will crap on it.

PS

Don't count the purple poos, they're blackbirds.

Does this help?

:thumbsup:

I now have result. 232 nomadic pigeons visited Sheffield today between the hours of 6:AM and 6:PM. 472 Sheffield pigeons were spotted between these hours of which 15 were dead.

Therefore the result of my survey shows that Sheffield has a total population of 225 pigeons.

Interesting stuff. Thank you for all that helped in this illuminating study.

Sam Miguel is starting to frighten me.

Another pigeon-related question, and one you might want to take into consideration for your book, Sam.

While eating my chip butty for lunch today the pigeons were pecking at my feet as can be expected (there was about 7 just for the record). Just before I'd finished I threw them a bit of bread for them to nibble on. Then, having finished my lunch, I decided to throw them a small piece of paper, which would look similar to a piece of bread if you had eyes the size of pigeons. The first pigeon approached the paper and looked like it was going to peck, but it promptly backed away. Another pigeon went for the paper but it was having none of it. Anyway, my question is, how could the pigeons tell the difference between paper and bread? And how do they know paper isn't edible?

Probably because they've tried THE SUN and found it unpalatable like most of us humans.

Here's another one for you Sam M, how come all the pigeons I've seen with a dodgy foot have a dodgy RIGHT foot?

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
I now have result. 232 nomadic pigeons visited Sheffield today between the hours of 6:AM and 6:PM. 472 Sheffield pigeons were spotted between these hours of which 15 were dead.

Therefore the result of my survey shows that Sheffield has a total population of 225 pigeons.

Interesting stuff. Thank you for all that helped in this illuminating study.

Sorry Sam,but I must correct you...there are infact 229 pigeons.

This was calculated using the stromberg dopler method,this is always found to be the most accurate.

Still prefer the C2/CC method. (craps x2 over clean car)

I don't know the first thing about dopple ganger wotsits nor pigeon's feet. I am new when it comes to pigeonography.

All I know is that i have some sound information to base my new book on. 'Pigeons over Sheffield'.

I have written the first paragraph already. Here it is.

' "Sheffield: industrial machine of the North", they used to call it. But that was then, and this is now. Sheffield used to have steel, for Sheffield was Steel City. It used to have pigeons too, and still does They nestle greedily upon steel girders flimbistically flaying their wings in anger at those who count them. Then they fly off, have plop on a passer-by, and then they fly back again. "

Excerpt from 'Pigeons over Sheffield' by Sam Miguel 2004