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Working on instinct
Starlings are born with a navigational instinct
They captured starlings migrating west from Eastern Europe to winter in southern England and northern France. They then transported these starlings due south to Switzerland before marking and releasing them. When some starlings were recaptured later, the young birds and adults turned up in completely different locations. The young birds, which had never migrated before, ended up in southern France and Spain.
Instinct had made them continue in a westward direction, despite now being south of their correct route. The adults that had migrated before, still made it to southern England and northern France. Their experience had given them a mental map, so they were able to adjust their course and get back on track.
Last modified: 11 January 2005