The use of radio-tracking for monitoring Great Tit Parus major behaviour: a pilot study

Data obtained from a pilot radio-tracking study of Great Tits are presented. Three males were tracked intensively in sequence between January and April with varying efficiency. Radio-tracking provided useful information on range size and spatial patterns of range use. It also facilitated behavioural observations and the construction of time budgets. If the use of radio signals is a reliable means of predicting behaviour, the data presented from this study indicate that standard observation may be highly biased.