Gaby
As far back as 3,000 years ago, the ancient Persians understood that doves could find their way home from distant lands. They were the first to establish a pigeon post system.
The story of the dove is quite similar to that of the bread plant. People first learned to cultivate it, and only later did they give it a name. However, despite using pigeons for communication, humanity has yet to unravel the mystery of how these birds navigate back to their lofts. Countless experiments have been conducted to figure it out!
Take, for instance, one such experiment. A pigeon was placed in a dark box, preventing it from seeing its surroundings. Perhaps it was memorizing the twists and turns of the route? To rule that out, the box with the pigeon was tied to a rope and spun around for a long time. Then, they traveled a great distance in different directions and spun the box again.
Yet, when released, the pigeon would soar upward, survey its surroundings, and fly directly back to its loft without fail.
For a time, it was believed that pigeons navigated using the Earth’s magnetic field. Researchers attached copper plates and magnets to the birds’ backs, but the pigeons still managed to find their way home.
Thus, the millennia-old mystery of pigeon navigation remains unsolved, much like the enigma of how migratory birds orient themselves. If scientists could crack this code, they might create ships and airplanes that, in a “bird-like” manner, would inherently know where to go, guiding humans effortlessly on their journeys.
