Bird navigation is a fascinating and intricate process that involves a variety of sensory and cognitive abilities. Discover the science behind how birds find their way during long-distance migrations, including the role of visual, magnetic, olfactory, and celestial cues. Learn about the amazing adaptations that birds have developed to navigate different environments and conditions, from Arctic tundra to tropical rainforests. Explore the practical applications of bird navigation research, including conservation, aviation, and robotics. Discover our resources and expert insights on bird navigation and expand your understanding of one of the most extraordinary abilities in the animal kingdom.
I was at a lecture on animal navigation at the Royal Society this week. Nothing world changing, but possibly some useful bits of background regarding navigation. This deals with the mammal brain, but given the similarities in behaviour between mammals and birds one can assume the birds might achieve some similar process. The important brain…
Miriam Liedvogel is working on the genetics of migration and recently gave a presentation on this at RIN13: the world animal navigation conference. She asks the big key question: How do animals migrate? She suggests that we should think about – What direction do they need to go Timing: when to go Distance: how far…
At the RIN 13 animal navigation conference there was a lot about bird navigation and particularly, the Continental Robin, Erithacus rubecula which it is proposed, navigates through the action of the cryptochromes in their eyes which are disrupted by radical pairs caused by the effect of a magnetic field. This means that in theory they…
Please note that the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) carry out a brilliant Cuckoo tracking project. We think that we need to be sure that we are clear how fledglings make the journey to their wintering grounds. As they have never been there before, how do they know how to get there? If any of…
This link is important as it gives you more information on the work done by David Keays et al, which proved that the magnetite particle array supposed to exist in the upper beak, creates a magnetic compass response mechanism for birds, does not exist. As this article suggests the other candidate for magnetic response is…
Miriam Liedvogel is currently working at the CAnMove Centre, Department of Biology at Lund University. She has done extensive research and is a real expert on Animal Navigation, which is why she is one of our heroes. You will be able to see much of her work on Google > Miriam Liedvogel. She is currently researching finding markers to get a…
The Economist have just published a letter I wrote to them regarding a recent academic article on Viking sunstones. In the following letter I put forward what I believe to be an original argument on this popular subject. I have no way of proving this theory, which puts me in good company with the scientists…