[wideminded]

Aren't pigeons supposed to have a structure in their brains that can detect the Earth's magnetic field? I suppose this would give them a sense of orientation, but not absolute location, so maybe that's why they need the roads.

[Hunble]

That is what I remember!

Pigeons have iron related minerals in their inner ear that will align to the magnetic field. Some humans have that also, as I was remember from that initial research.

My father and I could always detect North, even when blind-folded and often made a game of it with our family.

That is why the pigeon research has stuck with me all of these year.

Is that how we do it? If I need to seek North, I just close my eyes and turn until it "feels" right.