Monday, February 29, 2016

Statistics

     After my recent trip to Costa Rica, I updated my life lists and, based on the number of people who ask me about such things, it occurred to me that the dedicated birders who follow my blog might be interested in seeing the spreadsheet below.
     This shows all the bird families of the world, based on the IOC World Bird List 2016, with the number of species I have seen in each family, and the percentage that represents of the total. I derive enormous pleasure from seeing the first member of a family of birds that I have never seen before, and with a little diligence and a little luck I can add another family in Cuba this year.
     If you are not interested in such matters quit now!









David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

26 comments:

  1. Hernán Tolosa29 February 2016 at 20:23

    How many species have you seen?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David M. Gascoigne,29 February 2016 at 20:58

      3,224.

      Delete
    2. Hernán Tolosa3 March 2016 at 14:18

      Awesome! I have only 401, all in my country, some species seen in Chile and Brazil are the same I've seen before in Argentina

      Delete
    3. David M. Gascoigne,3 March 2016 at 14:36

      Then come to visit us in Canada, Hernán, and we will help to to see many more species. Mi casa es su casa - verdaderamente.

      Delete
  2. martinealison29 February 2016 at 20:45

    Bonjour cher ami,

    C'est fou comme le nombre est important de familles d'oiseaux !
    Gros bisous ♡

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Furry Gnome29 February 2016 at 20:54

    You've seen a lot of birds! And obvioulsy travelled a lot too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David M. Gascoigne,29 February 2016 at 20:59

      I have travelled to every continent but Antarctica. My life list stands at 3,224.

      Delete
  4. Margaret D1 March 2016 at 01:10

    Oh my goodness. What an impressive list..yes, i did read all of them.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stuart Price1 March 2016 at 02:04

    I've never kept a lifelist, just national ones for Japan and the UK. I can't rememeber some of the birds I saw in other locales and with all the recent splits and whatnot it would give me a headache just thinking about it. I'm guessing it would only be about 1000 as I didn't do any serious birding when I happened to be in tropical countries.

    I admire your attention to detail and organizational skills!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. JRandSue1 March 2016 at 03:54

    Wow,now that's what I'd call a list,over 3000 Birds,good going David.
    Keep ticking.
    John.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rhodesia1 March 2016 at 04:08

    Wow that is impressive, but I guess you also have a list naming each type of bird from a species as well. I have sort of kept a list of birds I have seen in Africa, UK and France but my book and list from Australia went AWOL, think I must have left it in a taxi and I never did track it down which was very sad. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jan W1 March 2016 at 06:16

    You did a great job making this list, David. One of your ancestors must have been a grocer or a monk. Do you think it's possible to get a full 100% score? Gr Jan W

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David M. Gascoigne,1 March 2016 at 06:19

      Actually Jan, my great great grandfather was a minister! If you had unlimited time and money you could get close to 100% but I doubt that anyone could ever see every single bird on earth.

      Delete
  9. Ana Mínguez Corella1 March 2016 at 06:49

    Fine!!! Great work.. Have a nice week David..

    ReplyDelete
  10. Irma1 March 2016 at 09:49

    Hello David,
    This is an impressive list of birds.
    Best regards, Irma

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bob Bushell1 March 2016 at 11:21

    It is ENORMOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. matti niilola1 March 2016 at 14:40

    Hello David. Impressive list.
    Quite a job for you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Richard Pegler1 March 2016 at 15:25

    As you know, David, I'm not a lister and don't tend to get involved in sadistics (unless, of course it's owls or my garden birds), but I can't help but be gobsmacked by your list - and 3,224 lifebirds - Kinnell!!!!! - or are you up to 3,225 already??

    ReplyDelete
  14. Roos2 March 2016 at 10:07

    Wow David, this is some impressive list. I will at least have to get to the age of 120 to catch up with you.
    Regards,
    Roos

    ReplyDelete
  15. Helma3 March 2016 at 14:47

    Gosh !!! Have you seen so many types of David !!!!
    which is really great. I work every day so I have not seen so many species. I travel not so much because the work takes time but once .......

    ReplyDelete
  16. David M. Gascoigne,3 March 2016 at 14:50

    Make sure that Canada is on your list, Helma.

    ReplyDelete
  17. John Holmes3 March 2016 at 21:30

    Someday I might dig out my old notebooks and try to make sense of them - YOUR list is very organised.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stewart M4 March 2016 at 01:45

    Nice list - although you do have New Zealand Parrots twice!!! I spend for too much time cross checking SSheets at work!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David M. Gascoigne,4 March 2016 at 10:04

      Thanks for your diligence, Stewart. I will be sure to make the correction in my database.

      Delete
  19. Phil Slade4 March 2016 at 05:23

    An impressive list David. I admire your attention to detail. Although I have travelled to a number of continents and birded in most, I couldn't begin to remember all the species I have seen.

    If there are 20,000 birds species in the world you have less than 17,000 to go! Best arrange another trip soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David M. Gascoigne,4 March 2016 at 06:36

      Ah, but fortunately there are only just over 10,000 species so the task is not quite so daunting!

      Delete

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