Behavioral Studies

A flying raptor is fascinating. Whether you are observing an eagle’s display flight, an aerial transfer of food between two courting harriers, or a successful hunt by a Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), each is an impressive experience. Beyond the aesthetics of these displays lie many things that are of interest to biologists. Most of these deal with the ecological aspects of raptor biology, others with behavioral aspects. The latter, in particular, remain unstudied among raptor biologists. This chapter provides raptor biologists with an introduction to behavior-study techniques, including methods and equipment used for descriptive and experimental analysis of behavior, both in the field and in the lab.