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Navigation in Birds and Other Animals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

Wolfgang Wiltschko  and
Roswitha Wiltschko
Wolfgang Wiltschko
Affiliation:
(Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt)
Roswitha Wiltschko
Affiliation:
(Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt)
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Extract

Many animals have some kind of ‘home’ –a nest, a burrow, etc. This applies to insects that build nests and provide their larvae with food just as much as to numerous species of vertebrates. Rodents and moles are known to dig burrows; most other mammals, reptiles, amphibians and even many fresh-water fish do not roam around randomly either, but have well-defined home ranges with favourite resting places in particular cavities, under rocks or in dense thickets. Birds build nests for their young and fly out searching for food. All these animals permanently face orientation problems: they have to move swiftly and efficiently within their home range, and they must be capable of returning home when they have left their familiar area while exploring, fleeing, etc.

Keywords

1. Animal navigation2. Heading references3. Orientation
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 46 , Issue 2 , May 1993 , pp. 174 - 191
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1993

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