Abstract
For years observational studies of animal feeding behaviour relied on researchers with cameras, binoculars and notebooks, observing animals and recording where they foraged, how they captured prey and the foods taken. These data underpin species management plans, and developing and testing ecological hypotheses. This chapter describes how observational studies are conducted and analysed. Field studies benefit from diverse technological skills, careful design and statistical analyses. New technologies, such as camera traps and drones, complement and enrich standard observational techniques and extend observational work into unstudied environments, such as the open ocean. Observing animals in the field should be fun, improving both understanding and conservation management. This chapter is designed to encourage field studies.
