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Sorry if this topic has been raised before but I wonder if anyone
knows the latest research in to animal celestial navigation. Obviously
plenty of examples of use of a sun compass, or moon compass, and
polarized light on cloudy days.

For pigeons there is this for example where they messed with the birds
body I clocks

Wiltschko, R, Walker M, Wiltschko W,    Sun-Compass Orientation in
Homing Pigeons: Compensation for Different Rates of Change in
Azimuth?, The Journal of Experimental Biology 203, 889–894 (2000)

I was wondering how accurate animal's body clocks could  and  if any
actually have a good sense of longtitude. Maybe not, certainly birds
and insects tend to migrate north and south I suppose.

..also any other evidence of more detailed knowledge of the night sky
in animals.

It struck me some whales travel a long way and not just North-South,
and they have huge brains (so could remember al lot), wonder if they
pop up to look at the sky for navigation? Maybe they cant see so well
in air.

Just a thought. Sorry if it is too far off topic.

Bill

   

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