Researchers Fit Pigeons With Tiny Head Cameras for Flight Through Artificial Forest

Posted on July 6, 2011

Researchers attached a tiny camera to the heads of pigeons and had them fly through an artificial forest to determine how birds can fly so quickly and accurately through dense forests.

"Attaching the camera to the bird as well as filming them from either side means we can reconstruct both what the bird sees and how it moves," said Dr. Huai-Ti Lin, a lead researcher for the study.

The researchers discovered that the pigeons, with over 300 degree panoramic vision, are able to rapidly assess obstacles on either side. The pigeons can also stabilize their vision and switch rapidly between views using what is called a head saccade, a small rapid movement of the head. The researchers also found that the birds have other skills that help them fly quickly through dense forest. For example, they tend to choose the straightest routes.

Dr Lin says, "This is a very efficient way of getting through the forest, because the birds have to do less turns and therefore use less energy but also because they reach the other side quicker. Another interesting finding is that pigeons seems to exit the forest heading in exactly the same direction as when they entered, in spite of all the twist and turns they made in the forest."

The research was presented at the Society for Experimental Biology annual conference in Glasgow. The goal of the research is to find ways to improve auto-pilot technology.

BIRDS