How Pigeons Really Get Home

Homing pigeons (1) ______ for their uncanny internal compass, yet a new study reveals that sometimes the birds get home the same way we do: They follow the roads. Tim Guilford and Dora Biro at (2) ______ Oxford University followed pigeons in Oxford over a three-year period, using tiny tracking devices equipped with global positioning system technology (3) ______ by Swiss and Italian colleagues.

What they discovered was surprising. Within ten kilometers of home, the pigeons relied less on their wellknown talents for decoding the sun’s position or deciphering the Earth’s magnetic field (4) ______ them navigate. Instead they opted for a habitual route that followed linear features in the landscape, such as roads, rivers, railways, and hedge lines — even when it wasn't the most direct way home. “It was almost comical,” says Guilford. “One pigeon followed a road to a roundabout, then exited onto a major road that led to a second roundabout. Others flew down the River Thames, only to make a (5) ______ turn at a bridge.” Guilford suggests that sticking to a (6) ______ , linear route may actually make homing more reliable — and easier. “It made me smile to see it,” says Guilford. “You can imagine yourself flying along a road doing the same thing.”

Homing pigeons (1) ______ for their uncanny internal compass, yet a new study reveals that sometimes the birds get home the same way we do: ...