Request for Assistance with Dissertation Methodology (1 Viewer)

[Rubythezoologyundergrad]

Hello,

I am an undergraduate Zoology student at Aberystwyth University, and I am planning to write my dissertation on the effects of environmental conditions, particularly weather, on starling murmuration duration and starling cloud size. I would greatly appreciate any advice on some aspects of my research methodology.

In Aberystwyth, the starling roost is located under the pier, and it is estimated to consist of over 50,000 birds. I plan to measure the number of birds within the cloud at set intervals during the display, as well as the total duration of the murmuration.

However, I am unsure how to define the start and end of a murmuration in order to standardize this variable for my timing measurements. Additionally, I am seeking guidance on how to accurately count such a large number of birds.

Any advice or insights you could provide would be immensely appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to consider my request.

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

For estimating numbers I can only suggest photographic methods; can you photograph the entire Murmuration, or entering or leaving subflocks? Otherwise could you measure flock volume and estimate from density?
As for start and end of Murmurations; I think you need to pick a number, and decide that once you have that or more, you have a Murmuration. Good luck.

 

[Rubythezoologyundergrad]

For estimating numbers I can only suggest photographic methods; can you photograph the entire Murmuration, or entering or leaving subflocks? Otherwise could you measure flock volume and estimate from density?
As for start and end of Murmurations; I think you need to pick a number, and decide that once you have that or more, you have a Murmuration. Good luck.

Hello, thank you very much for taking the time to respond and help me with this, I really appreciate your input.
Picking a number to define the start and end is a great idea, thank you!

 

[DMW]

Estimating flock size for densely-packed birds in flight is really hard, especially when they are constantly changing direction and flock shape. I agree that taking photos is your best bet, but even then a lot of judgement will be required.

Using photos, there may be a way of digitally quantising the shade of a flock (darker = denser) to estimate density of birds per cubic metre, and perhaps a rangefinder to help estimate overall flock dimension.