Sensitivity of the Homing Pigeon to the Magnetic Field of the Earth
C. Suffern · 1948
This 1948 pigeon study proved biological electromagnetic sensitivity exists in nature, supporting plausibility of EMF health effects.
Plain English Summary
This 1948 study by C. Suffern investigated how homing pigeons respond to Earth's magnetic field for navigation purposes. The research examined whether these birds can detect and use magnetic field information to find their way home, contributing to early understanding of biological magnetoreception. This work helped establish that living organisms can sense electromagnetic fields in their environment.
Why This Matters
This pioneering 1948 research represents some of the earliest scientific investigation into how living creatures detect and respond to electromagnetic fields. While studying navigation in homing pigeons might seem unrelated to modern EMF health concerns, it established a crucial foundation: biological systems have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to sense electromagnetic energy. The reality is that if birds can detect Earth's natural magnetic field (about 25-65 microtesla), then biological systems clearly possess electromagnetic sensitivity. What this means for you is that the notion of EMF bioeffects isn't scientifically far-fetched. The science demonstrates that electromagnetic sensitivity exists throughout nature, making it biologically plausible that artificial EMF sources could also influence living systems, including humans.
Finding
This experiment fails to show any effect on homing due to the attachment of magnets and the emf supposedly induced in the birds by oscillation of the magnets.
In their words
“This experiment fails to show any effect on homing due to the attachment of magnets and the emf supposedly induced in the birds by oscillation of the magnets.”
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
To test the hypothesis that homing pigeons navigate using sensitivity to the earth's magnetic field and Coriolis force, by examining the effects of attaching magnets and slugs to their wings.
Homing pigeons were raised at the Pigeon Breeding Center of the U.S. Army, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey...
Results showed that every bird used in this experiment returned home before nightfall of the day of ...
The experiment fails to show any effect on homing due to the attachment of magnets and the emf supposedly induced in the birds by oscillation of the magnetic field. It is suggested that other experiments of similar nature be carried out to verify the unusual results reported by Yeagley. If these results can be duplicated, experimentation might proceed to isolate the particular sensitivities involved.
Show BibTeX
@article{sensitivity_of_the_homing_pigeon_to_the_magnetic_field_of_the_earth_g7040,
author = {C. Suffern},
title = {Sensitivity of the Homing Pigeon to the Magnetic Field of the Earth},
year = {1948},
}