Pigeon Cam Gives Birds Eye View of Forest Trees

Ready for your close up? This pigeon s head held camera captures all, including the secret of how these birdbrains navigate tricky forest environments. Researchers from Harvard University attached tiny cameras to the heads of pigeons and trained them to fly through an artificial forest in order to learn how the birds make choices in flight. The pigeons proved excellent navigators, the researchers reported on July 1 at the Society for Experimental Biology s annual conference in Glasgow. They always chose the straightest route through the trees and seem to exit the forest heading the same direction as when they entered, despite the twists and turns they have to take to avoid crashing. The results will contribute to research in developing robotics and auto pilots, the researchers said.