Friday, September 2, 2011

Feather Muse Friday SPECIAL AVIAN POWERS




"Feather Muse"

 Navigational Know How

If you were worried about our City birds, or any birds along the East Coast, during the recent Hurricane, be assured, besides their wings,
they are equipped with extra powers of survival.
 Tim Howard
Heads to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey for the story of a WWII hero
whose feats of navigation saved hundreds of lives.
The hero? A pigeon named G.I. Joe.

Museum Curator 
Mindy Rosewitz
fills in the details.

Professor Charles Walcott

Helps Tim delve into the mysteries of how pigeons pull off these seemingly impossible journeys.
flying home across hundreds of miles of unfamiliar terrain.

Dr. Lera Boroditsky

Tells us about a language in Australia in which a pigeon-like ability to orient yourself is so crucial.  You can't even say hello without knowing exactly which direction you're facing.

And finally, Jad and Robert talk to 
Karen Jacobsen
aka "the GPS girl," about her own navigational abilities.

Listen While You Work
http://www.radiolab.org/2011/jan/25/birds-eye-view/
The show is about an hour long


7 comments:

deanna7trees said...

i always wonder where the birds are hiding during a rainstorm...

Ms. said...

Me too. My followers reappeared and disappeared again today! Aurgh!!!

jude said...

i have no sense of direction. as a bird i would be lost

Nancy said...

Yes, where they hid out during rain is one thing, but a powerful storm - I always wonder.
I have no followers today either.

Ms. said...

for example, have you ever seen a pigeon corpse. Other than when they are run over in the street, I have not!

deanna7trees said...

I think that other birds, vultures, etc. get to dead animals pretty quickly and just feast so you wouldn't see a corpse.

Ms. said...

No vultures in New York City. Rats maybe.