Mystery of bird navigation system still unsolved

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21688-mystery-of-bird-navigation-system-still-unsolved.html

We have always said that the work of our hero David Kaeys is critically important in demolishing the magnetite cluster in the beak theory.  This theory proposed that the magnetite group acted as a compass which enabled birds to sense the magnetic field and therefore use this for navigation.

I am delighted that other places such as this link confirms this work and gives more information.  We are deeply skeptical of the idea that just knowing where North is is of any help to navigation as you need a map showing your current position and that of the destination to use a compass.

Richard Nissen
editor

Similar Posts

  • Bar headed goose

    Recent work at Bognor University by a team headed by Charles Bishop has shown they actually follow the contours as they fly from their breeding ground in the high lakes North of the Himalayas south over the Himalayas into the Indian sub continent See wikipedia for images and an overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar-headed_goose This is an interesting…

  • Murmuration

    http://vimeo.com/31158841 This video shows the amazing whorls and patterns made by a flock of starlings.  You might see these over cities.  These displays used to be common over London, and I think still are over Rome. Whilst there has been much scientific research and theories on why starlings do this, the contention is that the…

  • Bird Navigation

    I was delighted to be able to attend the animal navigation conference at Reading University in May 2008. I attended as a dowser with the theory that animals can and do follow dowsable clues including earth energy lines as an aid to navigation. We all know that dowsers (water diviners) can find water.  However what…

  • Radar Ornithology – A Summary

    In 1967 Eric Eastwood published a book called Radar Ornithology.  Whilst research has moved on since then, this is a seminal book and gives really useful hard information on the migration habits of Passerines including thrushes, continental robins, warblers, starlings and woodcock. These birds make their migratory journeys to England in the autumn from the…