SIZE AND SHAPE
The 2020 trackable spreadsheet was resorted and only those from 2010 through 2015 were saved to another spreadsheet. These bugs are all 5-10 years old. To this collection of 234 logs was added the release and last-log locations, release dates, identification numbers, total drops made, and a label for the kind of trackable.
As a whole, my trackables are not uniform in shape or size, but they do fall in to general groups, some of which are the same, cloth patches, poker chips, laminated images, keychain pendants, etc. However, I keep track of the trackables by series’ names and some of the series have bugs of different sizes and shapes. For example, the Travel series includes beads, laminated images, keychain pendants, patches and more. I know smaller bugs are more likely to be retrieved than larger ones, but I wondered if shape, with size, might influence endurance. Despite this small sample (a larger study of all trackables is planned), maybe a trend will manifest itself.
The 2020 trackable spreadsheet was resorted and only those from 2010 through 2015 were saved to another spreadsheet. These bugs are all 5-10 years old. To this collection of 234 logs was added the release and last-log locations, release dates, identification numbers, total drops made, and a label for the kind of trackable.
As a whole, my trackables are not uniform in shape or size, but they do fall in to general groups, some of which are the same, cloth patches, poker chips, laminated images, keychain pendants, etc. However, I keep track of the trackables by series’ names and some of the series have bugs of different sizes and shapes. For example, the Travel series includes beads, laminated images, keychain pendants, patches and more. I know smaller bugs are more likely to be retrieved than larger ones, but I wondered if shape, with size, might influence endurance. Despite this small sample (a larger study of all trackables is planned), maybe a trend will manifest itself.
There are orders of magnitude differences in percent survival between the top and the bottom groups on the list. However, I realized after the table was finished that I had failed to consider some important variables. In addition to the packaging differences mentioned above, many of these trackables are from periods when I was experimenting with alternative tag attachment (grommets, glued links, small bolts), and also the time when I started my complete conversion to the rivet attachment I have used since. Moreover, it was the period I quit using small, unpainted plywood cutouts (because they don’t stand up to immersion in water) and when I started painting solid-wood items. Never-the-less the data are suggestive.
I will note that some years ago, in anticipation of a future studies, several of the series have items that are duplicates in every respect except for chain/rivet attachment and paint/no-paint treatment. The 2020 sample sizes of these subgroups are just too small attribute significance. It will take an analysis of all my trackables to sort this out with any confidence.
I will note that some years ago, in anticipation of a future studies, several of the series have items that are duplicates in every respect except for chain/rivet attachment and paint/no-paint treatment. The 2020 sample sizes of these subgroups are just too small attribute significance. It will take an analysis of all my trackables to sort this out with any confidence.