PIGEON HOMING: OUTWARD JOURNEY DETOURS INFLUENCE THE INITIAL ORIENTATION

Abstract

SUMMARY In five successive experiments, two groups of pigeons which had the same homing experience were transported to the release point by different routes, which were initially opposite in direction or very divergent. In all experiments the orientation of the two pigeon groups was significantly different, as the birds showed a strong tendency to choose a direction opposite to that of the first part of their outward journey.