<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The Emlen funnel cage was introduced in 1966. Since then it has been used in numerous studies on bird orientation. In 1995, Busse proposed another technique - in the form of flat, round cylindrical cage. Busse also tested nocturnal migrants in the daytime. He, and Nowakowski and Malecka (1999), proved that birds tested in daylight and at night displayed similar distributions of their preferred directions. This study also supports their findings. Zehtindijev <italic>et al.</italic> (2003) found that results in the Emlen funnel and Busse's flat cage were coherent, despite the tests were performed in different conditions (night-day) and in different years. This study is the first one that compares results of the same individuals tested in the two types of orientation cages during the day (<italic>N</italic> = 75) and night (<italic>N</italic> = 17). Results of both methods did not differ (Watson-Williams test of mean angles, Mann-Whitney <italic>U</italic>-test of angular dispersion) both during the day and at night. Multiheading bird behaviour is common in both types of cages and seems to be a normal feature of orientation data. The only difference was found in bird activity (<italic>i.e.</italic> number of scratches during 10 minutes of testing) that was higher for Busse's flat cage in daytime tests.</p></abstract>

The Emlen funnel cage was introduced in 1966. Since then it has been used in numerous studies on bird orientation. In 1995, Busse proposed another technique - in the form of flat, round cylindrical cage. Busse also tested nocturnal migrants in the daytime. He, and Nowakowski and Malecka (1999), proved that birds tested in daylight and at night displayed similar distributions of their preferred directions. This study also supports their findings. Zehtindijev et al. (2003) found that results in the Emlen funnel and Busse's flat cage were coherent, despite the tests were performed in different conditions (night-day) and in different years. This study is the first one that compares results of the same individuals tested in the two types of orientation cages during the day (N = 75) and night (N = 17). Results of both methods did not differ (Watson-Williams test of mean angles, Mann-Whitney U-test of angular dispersion) both during the day and at night. Multiheading bird behaviour is common in both types of cages and seems to be a normal feature of orientation data. The only difference was found in bird activity (i.e. number of scratches during 10 minutes of testing) that was higher for Busse's flat cage in daytime tests.

A comparison of the Emlen funnel and Busse's flat cage for orientation studies

Bird Migration Research Station, Univ. of Gdańsk, Przebendowo, PL-84-210 Choczewo, Poland

International Birding and Research Centre in Eilat, P.O. Box 774, Eilat 88000, Israel

The Ring

{"article-title":"A comparison of the Emlen funnel and Busse's flat cage for orientation studies"}

The Emlen funnel cage was introduced in 1966. Since then it has been used in numerous studies on bird orientation. In 1995, Busse proposed another technique -...

A comparison of the Emlen funnel and Busse's flat cage for orientation studies

Published Online: Apr 14, 2010

Page range: 59 - 69

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10050-008-0060-8

Keywords
migration, orientation experiments, orientation cages

This content is open access.

A comparison of the Emlen funnel and Busse's flat cage for orientation studies

Published Online: Apr 14, 2010

Page range: 59 - 69

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10050-008-0060-8

Keywordsmigration, orientation experiments, orientation cages

This content is open access.

Keywords
migration, orientation experiments, orientation cages