The ontogeny of the homing pigeon navigational map: evidence for a sensitive learning period

Homing pigeons can learn a navigational map by relying on the heterogeneous distribution of atmospheric odours in the environment. To test whether the re might be a sensitive period for learning an olfactory-based navigational map, we maintained a group of young pigeons in an aviary screened from the winds until the age of three to four months post-fledging. Subsequently, t he screens were removed and the pigeons were exposed to the winds and the e nvironmental odours they carry for three months. One control group of pigeo ns was held in a similar aviary but exposed to the winds immediately upon f ledging, while another control group of pigeons was allowed free-flight. Wh en the pigeons from the three groups were released from two distant release sites at about six months of age post-fledging, the two control groups wer e found to be equally good at orientating and returning home, while the exp erimental pigeons held in the shielded aviary for the first three months po st-fledging were unable to orientate homeward and they were generally unsuc cessful in returning home. This result supports the hypothesis that environ mental experience during the first three months post-fledging is critical f or some aspect of navigational map learning and that navigational map learn ing displays sensitive period-like properties.