| ▲ | Scientists discover guidance system for migratory songbirds(news.exeter.ac.uk) |
| 25 points by bit_economist 14 hours ago | 7 comments |
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| ▲ | hailwren 12 hours ago | parent | next [-] |
| Am I crazy? This doesn't actually say anything about their guidance system? Just that its "genetic"? > In a groundbreaking new study published in the journal Science, researchers have found that a combination of genetics and environment determines where migratory birds fly to for the winter. |
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| ▲ | xg15 2 hours ago | parent | next [-] | | Yeah, the discovery seems more to me that some kind of genetic/biological guidance system must exist, because otherwise the observations would be hard to explain - but it doesn't tell how that guidance system works (though I'd really like to know now...) | |
| ▲ | BetterThanSober 11 hours ago | parent | prev [-] | | If it is mainly genetic then a bird raised in captivity should be able to track the route somewhat accurately, that's groundbreaking | | |
| ▲ | lioeters 10 hours ago | parent [-] | | I guess the "guidance system" is not located in any organ or individual bird, but as a kind of accumulated collective knowledge. Perhaps the term was misleading, since it's a metaphor relating to a mechanism in individual airplane, rocket, etc. Anyway, fascinating to learn more about these lovely creatures. |
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| ▲ | xg15 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-] |
| > The research team used incredibly light data logger trackers measuring light intensity and time fitted as backpacks to the birds. No GPS? |
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| ▲ | daneel_w 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-] |
| So the Earth's magnetic poles are not involved at all then? |
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| ▲ | magicalhippo 11 hours ago | parent [-] | | They surely use magnetics ss their compass. This research uncovered the map they're using while traveling, so to speak. |
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