Entries tagged "wayfinding birds"

Letters from Bob

2013-01-28

For a slight change, I thought I would add a little correspondence from Bob Boxberger to the website. I enjoyed these perspectives and Bob was kind enough to allow me to share these exchanges with you – thanks Bob! ----------------- Hello Mr. Gooley: Just finished your book "Natural Navigator" with pleasure and interest. In that book's Chapter 8 you describe navigation feats of migratory birds. That prompts me to offer you a note for your bird navigation file derived from an experience of mine as a young soldier stationed at Cold Bay, Alaska at the…

Raven-Floki and the Wayfinding Birds of Old

2008-12-31

Another frosty morning and the birds seem particularly active. Whenever I see dark birds in a cold setting I am reminded of the Raven-Floki tale.Floki Vilgerdarson was a Norwegian Viking and one of the first of his countrymen to set foot on Iceland. One method he used of wayfinding was to take ravens with him and then release them. By watching their behaviour, Floki was able to divine the proximity and direction of land.According to legend, he released three birds, the first went nowhere, the second took off and then returned to his ship,…