apterous.org

Martin Thomas Just to clarify something before we start:

I said "the score for a bird will be doubled" but if you declare a bird in the plural I will still double the score.

Johnny Canuck How many points is a twelve-letter bird? Or if you get one do you just win the tourney?

Martin Thomas It's just 12 points for a 12 in hypertouch so this will be doubled to 24 for a bird.

You won't win the tourney for one but I will be very impressed.

Ian Volante What's the deal on birds that exist but aren't in the dictionary without their regional descriptor for example?

Martin Thomas Any bird must be a valid Apterous word but I will accept birds that aren't specified in Lexico as long as I can find evidence somewhere else.

Ian Volante My game 1 R3 - STUBTAIL.

Martin Thomas The stubtail is a bird but as it isn't valid on Apterous it won't score I'm afraid.

Ian Volante Not that it'll affect the tournament hugely, but surely that contradicts your first statement?

Fiona T As I read it - Has to be a valid apterous word. Doesn't have to be a bird in lexico if it's a bird in another dictionary

Martin Thomas Yes Fiona, that is what I meant. As an example I would accept MAG. Lexico does not mention this being a bird but one of my other dictionaries does.

Ian Volante Okay, I read it that you'd accept it, if you could find evidence that it was a valid bird, not that it was in a separate dictionary!

Dan Spinks anything for pilot? pilot bird is definitely a thing

Andy SC Will I got double points for BIRDS, TITS and BIRDIE?

Martin Thomas Dan, I am not going to give points for PILOT unless it is sometimes used to refer to a pilot bird. I haven't found anywhere where it is used that way but if you know of somewhere let me know.
Similarly I didn't give Roger points for LYRES despite there being a lyrebird.

Andy, yes you will get double points for all of those.

Amie Bateen I had Albino in r8 of my first game - a type of parakeet budgie

Martin Thomas Amie, I have updated the spreadsheet with the points for ALBINO

Amie Bateen Cheers Martin

Martin Thomas Congratulations to Florence who wins with 276 points, closely followed by Chris on 270 and Tom on 268.

172 different birds were spotted which is very impressive so well done everyone. The avocet and the pigeon were the most common birds on Apterous. For the full count see the spreadsheet.

Thank you very much to everyone for taking part.

Martin Hurst Great fun - cheers Martin :)

Chris Hare Thanks for organising, Martin; congratulations, Florence!