How do you prefer to communicate with your friends? Do you opt for a phone call or do you prefer sending text messages? Maybe you enjoy sending short messages and pictures through smartphone apps?
Imagine having a bird that could deliver a message to your friend. Your friend could then reply and the bird would bring the response back to you. Sounds a bit like the owls in the magical world of Harry Potter, right? Well, this kind of magic isn’t just fiction, especially if you have a homing pigeon!
Homing pigeons are a specific type of domestic pigeon that descended from the rock pigeon. Wild rock pigeons have a natural ability to find their way back home from long distances. Today’s homing pigeons have been selectively bred to possess this same ability, even when carrying messages over those long distances.
Unlike the owls in the Harry Potter books, homing pigeons cannot be given an address or a specific person to fly to. However, if taken away from home, they can find their way back home in a surprisingly short amount of time. In fact, homing pigeons have been recorded returning home from distances as far as 1,100 miles away, and they can fly at an average speed of 50 miles per hour, with bursts of up to 90 mph!
This remarkable ability has made them valuable as messengers since ancient times, including during both World War I and World War II. Some pigeons even received medals for their service in delivering crucial messages during wartime!
But how do homing pigeons navigate their way back home over such long distances? Can you imagine being dropped off 1,000 miles away and having to find your way back home? You might rely on a map, smartphone, or GPS receiver to guide you. So, what do homing pigeons do?
Despite numerous scientific studies, we still don’t fully understand how homing pigeons navigate home across long distances. However, experts have proposed several theories that may explain at least part of the process.
Scientists now believe that homing pigeons have both a compass and a map mechanism that help them navigate back home. The compass mechanism allows them to fly in the correct direction, while the map mechanism enables them to compare their current location to their desired destination (home).
A homing pigeon’s compass mechanism is likely based on the position and angle of the Sun. Similar to many other bird species, homing pigeons can utilize the Sun to determine the right direction for their flight. However, the map mechanism still remains somewhat of a mystery.
Some researchers suggest that homing pigeons rely on magnetoreception, which involves using Earth’s magnetic fields for guidance. These researchers have discovered high concentrations of iron particles in homing pigeons’ beaks, which would allow them to easily detect magnetic fields.
However, more recent research proposes that homing pigeons may actually rely on low-frequency infrasound to find their way back home. These low-frequency sounds are inaudible to human ears but are produced by various sources, including the oceans and Earth’s crust.
Homing pigeons may listen to these sounds until they recognize the specific sounds of their home roost. Additionally, researchers note that as homing pigeons get closer to home, they may also be guided by familiar landmarks, just like humans use when navigating.
Give It a Try
Are you able to locate your way back home? Seek the assistance of a companion or a member of your family to engage in the activities below:
- Could a pigeon be considered a hero? Discover the answer when you read about Cher Ami, a homing pigeon that was awarded a medal for its service during World War I. Can you imagine fighting in a world war while depending on pigeons to deliver crucial messages? Do you think pigeons would ever be required in such a manner in the future? Share your newfound knowledge with a friend or a family member.
- Curious to learn more about the sport of pigeon racing? Watch the documentary titled Fancy That! – Racing Pigeon online. What are your thoughts? Would you ever desire to own and participate in pigeon racing? Why or why not? Do you think it sounds like an exhilarating sport?
- If you possessed a racing pigeon, there is one thing you must research before your next race: solar data. Why is this important? The sunlight aids pigeons in navigating in the correct direction. To gain further information, go online and read through the article titled Solar Activity Effects on Pigeons. Take note of at least three intriguing facts that you discover.
Sources of Wonder
- http://www.livescience.com/1111-homing-pigeons-find-home.html
- http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/geologist-has-probably-figured-out-how-homing-pigeons-find-their-way-home
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing_pigeon
FAQ
1. How do homing pigeons navigate?
Homing pigeons navigate using a combination of various sensory cues. They have an extraordinary ability to detect the Earth’s magnetic field, which helps them determine their direction. They also rely on visual landmarks, such as familiar buildings or mountains, to orient themselves. Additionally, pigeons have a keen sense of smell and can detect odors in the air, which aids in their navigation. By combining these different cues, homing pigeons are able to find their way home over long distances.
2. How far can homing pigeons travel?
Homing pigeons have the remarkable ability to travel long distances to return to their home base. They can cover distances of up to several hundred miles, with some pigeons known to have flown over 1,000 miles. The exact distance a pigeon can travel largely depends on factors such as weather conditions, wind speed, and the bird’s training and conditioning. Pigeon races are a popular sport where homing pigeons compete to see who can travel the furthest distance in the shortest time.
3. How do homing pigeons find their way back to their home?
When homing pigeons are taken to a location far away from their home, they use a combination of navigational techniques to find their way back. First, they rely on their ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field, which acts as a compass and helps them determine the general direction. Then, they use visual cues such as familiar landmarks to guide them closer to their home. Finally, once they are in the vicinity of their home, they rely on their memory of the specific location and the scent of their own loft to find their way back.
4. Can homing pigeons get lost?
While homing pigeons have an innate ability to find their way home, there are instances where they can get lost. Factors such as extreme weather conditions, strong winds, and unfamiliar surroundings can disorient pigeons and cause them to lose their sense of direction. Additionally, if a pigeon is not properly trained or conditioned, it may struggle to navigate effectively. However, in general, homing pigeons have a strong homing instinct and are remarkable at finding their way back home even over vast distances.
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