Data for: Beyond simple habituation: Anthropogenic habitats influence the escape behavior of spur-winged lapwings in response to both human and non-human threats

Habitat development may affect wildlife behavior, favoring individuals or behaviors that cope better with perceived threats (predators). Bolder behaviors in human-dominated habitats (HDH; e.g., urban and rural settlements) may represent habituation specifically to humans, or a general reduction in predator-avoidance response. However, such carry-over effects across threat types (i.e., beyond humans) and phases of the escape sequence have not been well studied to date. Here we investigated escape behaviors of a locally common wader species, the spur-winged lapwing (Vanellus spinosus). We assayed their flight initiation distance (FID) and subsequent escape behaviors in agricultural areas and in HDH. We found that lapwings in HDH were bolder, and that the difference was manifested in several phases of the predator-avoidance sequence (shorter FIDs, shorter distances fled, and a higher probability of escape by running vs. flying). When re-approached (by an observer) after landing, lapwings i..., Research approach: Our approach was based on initiating escape behavior via an FID (flight initiation distance) approach, using either a human observer or a simulated jackal as the potential threat. We used binoculars (Nikon monarch 5, 10x42), to search for a candidate Spur-winged lapwings (*Vanellus spinosus*). Only calm individuals were tested, starting ~30-100 meters from the bird, depending on local conditions. We compared three habitats and tested the whole sequences of escape behaviors performed by the focal bird in response to simulated threats.
The human threat was always simulated by the same observer (MBZ, lead author), similarly dressed, approaching the bird at a regular and continuous walking speed (~1 m/s). A second observer remained in a hidden area (a car in our case) to assist with data collection. These trials took place between February 2019 to March 2020.
The non-human threat was a taxidermic juvenile jackal (height ~40 cm) mounted on top of a camouflaged remotely con..., All models were constructed with the \"lme4\" package in R environment (Bates et al. 2014; RStudio Team 2020).
Repeatability was tested with a Gaussian distribution in the rptR package in R environment (Stoffel et al. 2017).