Pigeons do not flock to save energy
JUN 23, 2011
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.025403
Nature : Many studies have shown how some birds, such as pelicans, can conserve energy by flying in formation. However, for pigeons, flocking comes at a high energy cost. James Usherwood and colleagues at the University of London discovered this through fitting GPS sensors to the birds. They propose other factors that might explain why pigeons favor such an energy-intensive activity, such as mutual observation, collective guidance and navigation, enhanced security as a result of greater numbers of individuals or of eyes, fitness display, and assessment of group numbers.
© 2011 American Institute of Physics
