Territory Mapping

Territory Mapping

• The most accurate method for estimating the abundances of terrestrial breeding birds and evaluating their use of habitats.
• Adapted by some ecological monitoring programs
  • E.g. Common Bird Census

Advantages

• Relatively easy to do
• Comparable methods
• Little impact on individuals

Disadvantages

• Weather/time dependent
• Not all males may be singing on visit
• Territories may be fluid

Territories

• What is a territory?
  • An area that is defended (by an individual or group)
• How is it defined?
  
  • Keep out signals
• Do all species have territories?
  • Year-round
  • Breeding-season only
  • Not at all

Bird Territories

• How are these advertised?
  • Song birds
  • Non song birds
• Where to advertise?
  • Somewhere that song will carry
  • Potential predation risk

Song lures

• If you want tot establish the edge…