Make sure everyone is looking at the same tree, clump of shrubs, or even an obvious building - and use a conventional clock to describe the spot. For example, 12 o'clock is the very top of the tree in front of you, and 6 o'clock is the lowest visible branches (not necessarily the ground). 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock are located as expect on the 'face' of the tree.
Clock directions can also be useful to give angles from a particular point. For example, "the bird is at 7 o'clock, about 10 feet down from the highest point on the dark green tree."
photo © adrian binns
I use this tip a lot, but I wonder what will happen as the younger generations grow up with more digital timepieces and less exposure to traditional analog clocks. Will Tip #59 go the way of the dodo?
ReplyDelete~Kathi
Love the clock method. Cannot totally express the frustration when a trip leader kept yelling that the bird was "right there!" "Right WHERE?" we asked. "In that tree!" "Which tree?" (we were in a jungle) "The one with the vines!" Need I repeat - we were in a jungle, and most trees had vines.
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ReplyDeleteKathleen - as you well know birding in the jungle is tough. It is always wise to point out a distinctive tree or characteristic of it as a starting point.
ReplyDeleteKathi - let us hope that neither traditional clocks or species go extinct!
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