No wonder homing pigeons seldom get lost: They may get directions from their beaks. This intriguing idea is raised by a new study on the navigational abilities of birds published in tomorrow's issue of the science journal Nature.
Researchers say their study proves for the first time that homing pigeons can sense Earth's magnetic field. The findings add to the debate over whether pigeons and other birds chart their flight paths by using a magnetic sense or by following scent clues in the atmosphere. "The question of how [pigeons] might find their way home has fascinated laymen and academics for several decades," said Cordula Mora, a biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
James Owen
for National Geographic NewsNovember 24, 2004
