Complexity Digest 2005.03 - 11.01

17-Jan-2005

Homing Pigeons Develop Local Route Stereotypy, Proc. Biol. Sc. Bookmark and Share

Excerpts: The mechanisms used by homing pigeons (Columba livia) to navigate homeward from distant sites have been well studied, yet the mechanisms underlying navigation within, and mapping of, the local familiar area have been largely neglected. In the local area pigeons potentially have access to a powerful navigational aid--a memorized landscape map. Current opinion suggests that landmarks are used only to recognize a familiar start position and that the goalward route is then achieved solely using compass orientation. We used (...) to track homing pigeons as they became progressively familiar with a local homing task. (...)