Summary
In a second attempt to repeat recently published experiments that appear to support an hypothesis that olfactory cues play an important role in pigeon navigation, we have conducted 15 experiments in whichα-pinene in vaseline was applied to the birds' beak and nostrils prior to release, a procedure reported by Benvenutiet al. (1973) to cause a decrement in homing performance. Our results show no consistent difference between the experimental and control birds in any of the three parameters (initial orientation, rapidity of orientation, homing speed) measured by Benvenutiet al.
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We thank our colleagues Timothy Larkin, Marilyn Yodlowski, and Lindsay Goodloe for their help in conducting the releases. This research was supported by Grant BMS 72-02198-AO2 from the National Science Foundation.
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Keeton, W.T., Brown, A.I. Homing behavior of pigeons not disturbed by application of an olfactory stimulus. J. Comp. Physiol. 105, 259–266 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01379286
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01379286