[klondike mary] On the level, part IV

[klondike mary]

Not related to my other 'level' puzzles.

Eve heard noisy footsteps overhead. Which was strange, because her house does not have an attic. She went outside, and saw the cause of the problem. It was all done by committee!

[AlbatrossLover]

Is Eve human? Were the sounds actually footsteps? Were they coming from the roof? Somewhere above her house?

Committee = A group? Of people? Animals? Inanimate objects? Was she surprised by what she saw? Scared? Amused? Confused? Angered?

[klondike mary]

Is Eve human? Yes.Were the sounds actually footsteps? Yes.Were they coming from the roof?Yes. Somewhere above her house?

[klondike mary]

Committee = A group? Of people? Animals? This.Inanimate objects? Was she surprised by what she saw? Yes. Scared? Amused? Confused?Perhaps both amused and confused, to a degree. Angered?

[Earnest]

were the animal birds? Monkeys? Did the animal arrive on the roof alone? Someone brought them there? Did they escape from somewhere? Were there more than 3 animals? More than 5? If the animals went there alone, did they go there to eat? Attracted by smoke? Smell? Others?

Can we assume that she lives in a town? In an apartment? Near other people? Or maybe she lives alone in a forest? Or maybe nearby the place were the animals naturally live? Can we assume that this happens in the house where Eve lives?
Was it a rainy day? Had it been, would she have heard the footsteps? Was she alone in her house?

Did she have a ladder? Did she left the animals alone? Did she try to capture them? Did she relevantly have pets? Did she try to drive them away? Try to capture them?

Did the animals notice her? Did she hear the footsteps from the exact moment when the animals were on the roof? After a while?

WAG: they were carrier pigeons with an important message for her (more than one pigeon was send in case one was killed)

[klondike mary]

were the animal birds? Yes.Monkeys? Did the animal arrive on the roof alone? Yes.Someone brought them there? Did they escape from somewhere? No and no.Were there more than 3 animals? More than 5? Between 3-5.If the animals went there alone, did they go there to eat? Attracted by smoke? Smell? Others? Reasons unknown.

Can we assume that she lives in a town? Yes.In an apartment? Near other people?In a house, in a suburban neighborhood. Or maybe she lives alone in a forest? Or maybe nearby the place were the animals naturally live? No to all these. Can we assume that this happens in the house where Eve lives?Yes.
Was it a rainy day?No, n.r. Had it been, would she have heard the footsteps? Probably not, if it was raining heavily. Was she alone in her house?AFAIK, yes.

Did she have a ladder? n.r. Did she left the animals alone? Yes. Did she try to capture them?NO. Did she relevantly have pets?n.r. Did she try to drive them away? Try to capture them?No and no.

Did the animals notice her? Assume so, but n.r;Did she hear the footsteps from the exact moment when the animals were on the roof? After a while?Don't know exact sequence, n.r

WAG: they were carrier pigeons with an important message for her (more than one pigeon was send in case one was killed)Clever WAG, but wrong.
Earnest

Posts: 3116
Joined: Tue May 30, 2017 7:52 am
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[Earnest]

She does not have an attic...--> Can we assume that the roof was right above her ceiling? or there was another house above and then the roof? In this last case, relevant how she was able to hear the footsteps?
So when hearing the footsteps, was she already paying attention to the noises on the roof? To noises in general? Or we can assume that she was doing something else not relevant and she suddenly heard the footsteps?

Is her profession relevant? Is science involved?

Did she try to capture them?NO --> did she expect the birds (3 to 5?) to be there? Did she want it? Did she want to feed them? To use them as a bait? Are traps relevant?Did she call someone else? Zoology relevant? Zoos?

Is the fact that the birds were on the roof an advantage for her? Did it happen in a relevant season? Day? Hour of the day?

Birds = pigeons? Common birds? Owls? Eagles? Seagulls? Rare species of birds? Chicken? Others?

Small WAG. --> did she have a weathercock on the roof? If so, did it attract other birds?

[klondike mary]

She does not have an attic...--> Can we assume that the roof was right above her ceiling? Yes.or there was another house above and then the roof?No. In this last case, relevant how she was able to hear the footsteps?
So when hearing the footsteps, was she already paying attention to the noises on the roof? To noises in general? Or we can assume that she was doing something else not relevant and she suddenly heard the footsteps? This is the case.

Is her profession relevant? Is science involved?No to both

Did she try to capture them?NO --> did she expect the birds (3 to 5?) to be there? Did she want it? Did she want to feed them? To use them as a bait? Are traps relevant?Did she call someone else? Zoology relevant? Zoos?No, no, no, no to all!

Is the fact that the birds were on the roof an advantage for her? No.Did it happen in a relevant season? Just recently.Day? Hour of the day? n.r.

[klondike mary]

Birds = pigeons? Common birds? Owls? Eagles? Seagulls? Rare species of birds? Chicken? Others?[b]None of the named ones, but fairly common.[/b]

Small WAG. --> did she have a weathercock on the roof? If so, did it attract other birds?Never thought of that!. I don't know, but it does not affect the puzzle, so will say no.
Earnest

[klondike mary]

No hint, but search engines are allowed. What bird meets in committees?

[Earnest]

swallows? migration relevant? parrots? robins? ducks? woodpeckers?

[klondike mary]

swallows? migration relevant? parrots? robins? ducks? woodpeckers? None of these. They may migrate, but there is a resident population as well.
This is near Houston, Texas, which may not mean anything to Earnest and the other European puzzlers. Let's say it is in a warmish locale, if that is any help.

[Earnest]

Ok I am just guessing here: is there something special for birds in Texas?
is birdwatching relevant?

Hogg birds relevant? did she live near a special place for birds? is she used to birds on the roof?

[klondike mary]

Ok I am just guessing here: is there something special for birds in Texas? These birds are found all over the New World, and similar species are prevalent world-wide. They are resident in this area, not migrants, but I think that they invite all their friends and relatives to come here for holidays!
is birdwatching relevant? No.

Hogg birds relevant? Not sure what this is? did she live near a special place for birds? is she used to birds on the roof? No to both.
Additional hint: They are a largish bird, about as large as a good-sized goose.

[Balin]

Turkeys? Vultures? Turkey vultures?

[klondike mary]

Turkeys? Vultures? Turkey vultures YES!
*******************SPOILER*******************
Turkey vultures (commonly called 'turkey buzzards' in this area) have different group names, depending on what they are doing. Flying, they are a 'kettle.' Feeding, they are, fittingly, a 'wake.' And just hanging around, they are a 'committee.'
Love it!