Birds navigate their long migrations using a combination of senses including sight, smell, the sun, stars, Earth's magnetic field, and polarized light, with different cues being more important depending on conditions and time of day. Their ability to find their way is driven by genetic predisposition and complex sensory mechanisms that scientists are still studying, which has implications for bird conservation efforts.
A study has found that radio waves emitted by radio and television broadcasting and CB radio can disrupt the magnetic compass of migratory birds, while those used in mobile communication networks do not. The researchers theorize that the magnetic compass sense in these birds is based on a quantum-mechanical effect located in their eyes. The study determined the upper bound frequency that disrupts the birds' magnetic compass and found that frequencies above 116 megahertz have only a weak effect on their magnetic orientation. Understanding magnetoreception is crucial for protecting migratory birds and avoiding electromagnetic radiation that can drive them off course.
