Behavioural networks: a new methodology to study birds’ habits

Abstract

We introduce here a new methodology, named Behavioural Networks (BeNe), to thoroughly analyze birds’ habits in space and time. Behavioural Networks are based on GIS technologies, association rules and network capabilities, all applied to GPS data. They return an information-rich and easily-interpretable synthesis of the activities taken by birds during a user-defined time interval. As a case study, we applied BeNe to the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni of the Santeramo in Colle colony (Apulia, Italy). Our methodology has been able to extract the main rules of the bird’s behaviour during the most critical part of the chick-rearing period. BeNe can be applied to any bird species, to any time interval and to both local and migratory GPS data.

Keywords

• animal behaviour
• association rules
• behavioural states
• behavioural transitions
• bio-logging
• Falco naumanni
• Santeramo in Colle
• networks