A Dynamic Model of Weaver Birds Flight Behaviour in Response to Electronically Generated Ultrasound using Bird-Flight Data

Abstract

The weaver bird flight patterns in response to various ultrasound frequencies transmitted from independently assembled equipment were obtained from bird-flight data of a previous study which examined the pest and environmental specific application of ultrasound in weaver bird pest control. Statistical modelling was used to develop weekly model equations spanning for a period of seven consecutive weeks along with their respective model plots. Regression analysis was used as a statistical tool and significant value as the test for hypothesis. Result shows that the flight pattern for weeks one to four follows the cubic model with a physical significance of an effective system resulting to mass flight. Week’s five to seven best fit the linear, inverse and quadratic models respectively with a physical significance of an ineffective system corresponding to partial and ineffective periods of ultrasound in weaver birds scaring resulting from habituation. A generalized model equation depicting the effective flight pattern was also obtained.