When natal dispersal ends: using satellite telemetry to quantify territory settlement in a long-lived raptor

Breeding territory settlement, as the end point of natal (juvenile) dispersal, is a key juncture in the life history and population dynamics of long-lived raptors. It spatially identifies natal dispersal distance and temporally identifies first recruitment to a breeding population. Its determination can be confused by similar temporary settlement behaviour during dispersal or by post-occupation territorial birds’ excursions. Satellite telemetry provides potentially for a method to ascertain location and date of territory settlement without field observer limitations. Prior field-observer estimates are likely biased towards older ages. Telemetry has previously ascertained first territory settlement, but not via a quantified repeatable measure based solely on telemetric records. Our primary goal was to derive analytical rules, via an algorithm based on satellite telemetric data to determine when a dispersing Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos had settled on (occupied) a prospective breeding t...