Magnets interfere with pigeon homing

Magnets glued to the backs of experienced pigeons often resulted in disorientation when the birds were released from distances of 17-31 miles (27-50 km) under total overcast, whereas no such disorientation occurred during similar releases under clear skies. The magnets did, however, often cause disorientation when first-flight birds were released under sun, and there was some indication of disturbance to experienced pigeons released under sun at longer distances.

Pigeon control by chemosterilization: population model from laboratory results

Reproductivity of pigeons is inhibited with mestranol incorporated in a synthetic grit; continual erosion releases daily doses. Young squabs may be permanently sterilized when fed crop milk by treated birds. A theoretical model of pigeon population dynamics using laboratory-obtained data shows the advantages of chemosterilization over killing as a means of pigeon control.

Paradoxical sleep in two species of avian predator (Falconiformes)

Periods of disconjugate. and conjugate eye movements occur during the sleep cycle in Buteo jamaicensis arborealis and Herpetotheres cachinnans chapmanni. Electromyograms are essentially isoelectric throughout sleep. Slow waves appear only in short bursts of low amplitude in contrast to the long trains of high-amplitude waves reported for chickens and pigeons.