Animal Marking pp 160-168 | Cite as

Identification of individual Bewick’s swans by bill patterns

  • Dafila K. Scott
Chapter

Abstract

Though the number of animals that have to be recognised in a field study should depend on the questions being asked, the reverse is often true: the questions that can be asked depend on the number of animals that can be recognised. In this chapter I discuss the merits of individual recognition by natural variation in bill pattern in a population of wild Bewick’s swans. This study population illustrates both the advantages and disadvantages of the method, and the extent to which it influences the questions that can be asked.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Acland, C.N. (1923). Notes on Bewick’s swans in Glamorganshire. British Birds, 17, 63–64.Google Scholar
  2. Bateson, P.P.G. (1977). Testing an observer’s ability to identify individual animals. Anim. Behay., 25, 247–248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Brown, J. and Lewis, V. (1977). A laboratory study of individual recognition using Bewick’s swan bill patterns. Wildfowl, 28, 159–162.Google Scholar
  4. Clutton-Brock, T.H. and Guiness F. (1975). Behaviour of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) at calving time. Behaviour, 55, 287–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Deag, J.M. (1974). A study of the social behaviour and ecology of the wild Barbary macaque Macaca sylvanus. Ph.D. thesis Bristol University.Google Scholar
  6. Douglas-Hamilton, I. (1972). On the ecology and behaviour of the African elephant: the elephants at Lake Manyara. Ph.D. thesis Oxford University.Google Scholar
  7. Evans, M.E. (1977). Recognising individual Bewick’s swans by bill pattern. Wildfowl 28(in press).Google Scholar
  8. Fossey, D. (1976). The behaviour of the mountain gorilla. Ph.D. thesis Cambridge University.Google Scholar
  9. Geroudet, P. (1962). L’hivernage des Cygnus bewickii sur le Leman. Nos Oiseaux, 21, 317–319.Google Scholar
  10. Geroudet P. (1963). Retour des cygnes de Bewick sur le Leman. Nos Oiseaux, 27, 181–182Google Scholar
  11. Goodall, J. van-Lawick (1965). Behaviour of free-living Chimpanzees. Ph.D. thesis Cambridge University.Google Scholar
  12. Hausfater, G. (1975). Dominance and reproduction in baboons Papio cynocephalus. Contributions to Primatology, Vol. 7, Karger, Basel.Google Scholar
  13. Mukinya, D. (1973). Density, distribution, population structure and social organisation of the black rhinoceros in Masai Mara Game Reserve. East Afr. Wildl. J. 11, 385–400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Schaller, G.B. (1972). The Serengeti Lion. Chicago University Press, Chicago.Google Scholar
  15. Scott, P. (1966). The Bewick’s Swans at Slimbridge. Wildfowl Trust Annual Report, 17, 20–26.Google Scholar
  16. Sermet, E. (1963). Des cygnes de Bewick a Yverdon. Nos Oiseaux, 27, 181.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© The Contributors 1978

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dafila K. Scott

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations