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Bird's-Eye View May Include Magnetic Fields

BoredStiff writes "Heard on NPR and reported in ScienceDaily: a study finding that migratory birds may be able to 'see' magnetic fields. The report comes from a current study by a research group from Oldenburg, Germany. They found that migratory birds use their visual system to perceive the reference compass direction of the geomagnetic field: 'Sensory systems process their particular stimuli along specific brain circuits. Thus, the identification of what sensory system is active during magnetic compass orientation, provides a way to recognize the sensory quality utilized during that specific behavior.'"

11 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. they're gunnin for ya by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Heard on NPR and reported in ScienceDaily: a study finding that migratory birds may be able to 'see' magnetic fields.

    How else do you think they're able to so accurately target your new car?

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. Wait one minute... by penguin_dance · · Score: 3, Funny

    They can see magnetic fields...

    But they keep getting whacked by windmills....

    Uh, okay.

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    1. Re:Wait one minute... by Plutonite · · Score: 2, Funny

      Let's just say they're single-threaded. It takes time to do electromagnetic integrals in your head while flapping your wings ya know. No wonder they shit so much.

  3. Re:Does this mean birds aren't doomed after all? by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not arguing with you, but perhaps you should do what I'm about to do.

    Have another drink.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  4. Bats by jeffkjo1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    And you thought it was cool to confuse bats by tossing stuff in the air, now I can crank up the magnetron when the canada geese fly overhead and throw them off so they settle for the winter in Iowa.

    You crapped on my car for the last time birds.

  5. Pshhhh... by callinyouin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who gives a shit about being able to see magnetic fields? My eyes have x-ray vision. http://www.spy.th.com/goggles.html

  6. Re:So what happens if the magnetic field changes? by icepick72 · · Score: 5, Funny

    As if I'm gonna' check out THAT link. I'll just blindly believe you instead.

  7. Really? by Wannabe+Code+Monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    noshitsherlock

    Really? noshitsherlock... I suppose all of you just knew that birds were able to "see" magnetic fields. That's really impressive, I can't believe how smart you are, that you had this knowledge in the back of your brain like I've got the switches to ls memorized. Thank you so much for demonstrating your superior knowledge in the form of a slashdot story tag, that's really cool. Much better than publishing your findings in a science journal, you decided to save them up and use them in a condescending manner on a technology blog. Way to go... I guess when the article stated, "surprisingly little is known about the neuronal substrates underlying these navigational abilities" it actually meant, "a few slashdot readers know exactly how the neuronal substrates work, but won't tell anyone." Anyway, I'd just like to applaud your contributions to humanity.

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  8. Re:If you want to know what it feels like by zeptobyte · · Score: 2, Funny

    You understand, of course, that I very well may have to kill you for so grossly misusing the word hack, right?

  9. Re:Does this mean birds aren't doomed after all? by maxume · · Score: 2, Funny

    When I become a scientist, I am going to make up words like thalamofugal.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  10. Re:Does this mean birds aren't doomed after all? by haakondahl · · Score: 3, Funny

    However, given that the poles are due for a reversal

    There's no way to tell when the next reversal will come along. We're certainly not 'due' for one.

    ((if a reversal happens when I post this, that would simply be irony. It wouldn't mean I'm wrong!)) Ferritic, anyway.
    --
    Don't trust anyone under thirty.