Krzysztof Muś
Bird Migration Research Station, University of Gdańsk
Przebendowo, 84-210 Choczewo, Poland
k.mus@univ.gda.pl
As the result of the single orientation test in the Busse?s cage we obtain
typically eight numbers describing counts of scratches in each of eight 45-
degree sectors. These numbers are only information we must transform into
directional preferences of the bird.
The Bayesian statistical approach in proper model selection was
presented. The first step is an estimation of the directional parameters for the
assumed number of directions. Models of 0 to 4 directions were investigated for
each orientation test.
The second step is a selection of the statistically best one from the
above models. The Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) was used for the
maximum posterior probability model determination.
Directions determined in the single orientation experiments are the
starting point in the upper-level modelling of the common directions in the group
of birds. Computer program for the orientation modelling is also presented.




