Abstract
To study the role of outward-journey information in the navigational system of birds, the orientation behavior of inexperienced pigeons of various ages was analyzed. Our findings suggest that information collected en route plays a very important role during the development of the orientation system. Route reversal provides a first mechanism of orientation prior to the establishing of a navigation “map”. More experienced birds seem to use mostly information collected at the release site. This is in agreement with the model proposed by W. Wiltschko and R. Wiltschko (1976, 1978, 1979).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baker RR (1978) The evolutionary ecology of animal migration. Hodder and Stoughton, London Sydney Auckland Toronto
Baldaccini NE (1982) Pigeon orientation: Experiments on the role of olfactory stimuli perceived during the outward journey. This volume, pp 160–169
Barlow JS (1964) Inertial navigation as a basis for animal navigation. J Theor Biol 6: 76–117
Batschelet E (1965) Statistical methods for the analysis of problems in animal orientation and certain biological rhythms. Am Inst Biol Sci, Washington DC
Benvenuti S (1982) Pigeon homing: Effect of altered magnetic field during displacement on initial orientation. This volume, pp 140–148
Frisch von K (1965) Tanzsprache und Orientierung der Bienen. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Graue LC (1963) The effect of phase shifts in the day-night cycle on pigeon homing at distances of less than one mile. Ohio J Sci 63: 214–217
Grüter M, Wiltschko R, Wiltschko W (1982) Distribution of release-site biases around Frankfurt a.M., Germany. This volume, pp 222–231
Jander R (1957) Die optische Richtungsorientierung der Roten Waldameise (Formica rufa L.). Z Vergl Physiol 40: 162–238
Keeton WT (1973) Release-site bias as a possible guide to the “map” component in pigeon homing. J Comp Physiol 86: 1–16
Keeton WT (1974) The orientational and navigational basis of homing in birds. In: Advances in the study of behavior, vol V. Academic Press, London New York, pp 47–132
Kiepenheuer J (1978) Pigeon navigation and magnetic field. Naturwissenschaften 65: 113
Kreithen ML (1978) Sensory mechanisms for animal orientation — can any new ones be discover-ed? In: Schmidt-Koenig K, Keeton WT (eds) Animal migration, navigation, and homing. Pro-ceedings in life sciences. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 25–34
Matthews GVT (1953) Sun navigation in homing pigeons. J Exp Biol 30: 243–267
Papi F (1976) The olfactory navigation system of the homing pigeon. Verh Dtsch Zool Ges 1976: 184–205
Schmidt-Koenig K (1979) Avian orientation and navigation. Academic Press, London New York
Walcott C (1980) Magnetic orientation in homing pigeons. IEEE Trans Magn 16: 1008–1013
Wallraff HG (1974) Das Navigationssystem der Vögel. Oldenbourg, München Wien
Wallraff HG (1978) Preferred compass directions in initial orientation of homing pigeons. In:Schmidt-Koenig K, Keeton WT (eds) Animal migration, navigation, and homing. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 171–183
Wallraff HG (1980a) Olfaction and homing in pigeons: Nerve-section experiments, critique, hypotheses. J Comp Physiol 139: 209–224
Wallraff HG (1980b) Does pigeon homing depend on stimuli perceived during the displacement? I. Experiments in Germany. J Comp Physiol 139: 193–201
Wallraff HG (1980c) Homing strategies of pigeons and implications for the analyse of their initial orientation. In: Nöhring R (ed) Acta XVTTth Congr Int Ornithol. Dtsch Ornithol Ges, Berlin, pp 604–608
Wallraff HG, Foà A, Ioald P (1980) Does pigeon homing depend on stimuli perceived during displacement? II. Experiments in Italy. J Comp Physiol 139: 203–208
Wehner R (1972) Visual orientation performances of desert ants (Cataglyphis bicolor) toward astromenotactic directions and horizon landmarks. In: Galler SR, Schmidt-Koenig K, Jacobs GJ, Belleville ER (eds) Animal orientation and navigation. NASA SP-262. US Gov Print Off, Washington DC, pp 421–436
Wiltschko R, Wiltschko W (1978) Evidence for the use of magnetic outward journey information in homing pigeons. Naturwissenschaften 65: 112–113
Wiltschko R, Wiltschko W (1981) The development of sun compass orientation in young homing pigeons. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 9: 135–141
Wiltschko W, Wiltschko R (1976) Die Bedeutung des Magnetkompasses für die Orientierung der Vögel. J Ornithol 117: 362–387
Wiltschko W, Wiltschko R (1978) A theoretical model for migratory orientation and homing in birds. Oikos 30: 177–187
Wiltschko W, Wiltschko R (1979) Wie stellen wir uns heute das Orientierungssystem der Vögel vor? Nat Mus 109: 321–329
Wiltschko W, Wiltschko R (1981) Disorientation of inexperienced young pigeons after transportation in total darkness. Nature (London) 291: 433–434
Yeagley HL (1947) A preliminary study of a physical basis of bird navigation. J Appl. Phys 18: 1035–1063
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1982 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Wiltschko, W., Wiltschko, R. (1982). The Role of Outward Journey Information in the Orientation of Homing Pigeons. In: Papi, F., Wallraff, H.G. (eds) Avian Navigation. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68616-0_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68616-0_24
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-68618-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-68616-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive