Many species of birds migrate. Migration is driven mostly by weather and the availability of food. They often travel the same course year after year with little deviation. The secrets of their amazing navigational skills aren’t fully understood. The birds are believed to combine several different types of senses when they navigate. They seem to have an internal GPS (global positioning system) that allows them to follow the same pattern every year.
Birds may depend on the sun, the stars, and the earth’s magnetic field to find direction. Scientists believe that birds likely follow the landscape to find their migratory destination. Visual makers, distinct sounds and smells. And learned social cues may play a significant part in this process.
Individual organs may also contribute a bird’s navigational ability. A bird’s eyes, inner ear (which has tiny amounts of iron in the ear neurons) and the trigeminal nerve, which connects the beak and brain of the bird, help them determine their exact position. The trigeminal nerve is thought to help birds evaluate the strength of earth’s magnetic field, which is stronger at the poles and weaker at the Equator.
Picture Credit : Google