[Red Badger]

I thought they used OnStar..........

[Tim Slagle]

So THAT'S how Nancy Pelosi fnds her way to Washington!

[edpc]

It will be interesting to see what happens once polar shift occurs.

[wildbill]

They carry it in a little pouch on their tummies and pull it out to check course periodically.

[Young Werther]

Migratory birds have magnetite in their brains. A SciAm reported study, years ago, showed that this internal compass was in action during their migration. A particluar migratory bird that flies from Main to the North Coast of South America also demonstrated an interesting adaptation since their 1200 mile overwater flight appeared daunting.

They were placed in spherical cages where the celestial sphere was represented by pin holes that were lit and twinkled. The Northern Hemisphere's constellations were represented. The bottom of the sphere was covered with ink flim. The sphere was rotated and the birds would jump as if to fly and their leap patterns were recorded on clean paper sheets below the star pattern. Their tracks demonstrated that they responded to star patterns! Not only was there a compass to guide them but stellar navigation ability as well.

Another interesting finding was the time sense that these migratory birds have. It seems that the biological clock in the male bird is such that their genitals remain "small" until they reach their winter homes. Then their geneitals grow to about 10% of their body weight and then.... Woo! Woo! (I know let the ballsy banter begin!)

I guess that's why so many pregnancies occur after a southern sojurn. Aruba anyone?