The Max Planck Institute in Radolfzell wants to find out how pigeons orient themselves.
To do this, the researchers send a very special taxi into the air.
Radolfzell (Baden-Württemberg) – It is a special kind of flight experiment: In order to research the orientation of pigeons more closely, eight pigeons fly high on Lake Constance.
However, not with their own wing power, but with a special pigeon taxi.
The scientists are particularly interested in one question in the experiment: Which pigeon finds the faster way home?
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Flying for science: Eight test birds can “take a seat” in the pigeon taxi.
© Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Biology/dpa
Pigeon taxi on Lake Constance - Researchers are investigating the birds' sense of direction
For the experiment, the researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Radolfzell on Lake Constance converted an ultralight aircraft into a pigeon taxi.
Eight pigeons can “take a seat” in a special holder.
Securely strapped in, the plane takes off – to the starting point in Boll in the Sigmaringen district.
From there the pigeons should then independently fly the 20 kilometers back to Radolfzell.
The movement data of the birds are recorded using small transmitters so that they can be compared later.
Pigeon taxi on Lake Constance - researchers record movement data
At the same time, other pigeons are on the move in the service of science.
However, these birds have not seen the route from the air before.
Project manager Michael Quetting and his team are excited to see how the "duel" turns out.
The behavioral researchers suspect that the pigeons that have flown in a taxi find their way home more quickly – using visual landmarks that they memorized on the outbound flight.
The collected movement data should show whether this is really the case.
A parrot that grabs the GoPro also delivers unforgettable aerial shots.
The Max Planck Institute carried out the first run of the research project two years ago.
When the experiment is repeated, the scientists want to collect more data in order to learn more about the animals' pronounced sense of direction, which has not yet been fully researched.
On the Mariendorf trotting track, however, a pigeon is disoriented when it slows down a racehorse.
Pigeon taxi on Lake Constance - birds complete training flights
Before the actual experiment starts in the coming weeks, the test birds will undergo special training.
In preparation, the animal test candidates flew around 20 times in the pigeon taxi.
The plane always followed the same route between Boll and Radolfzell.
In order to get the animals fit for the long distance, they also complete training flights in advance, which are gradually extended.
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