Interesting article about an Oxford University study of homing pigeons. Although the birds use their inbuilt magnetic and solar "compasses" when charting unfamiliar territory, they follow roads when they're familiar with the area. The researchers spent ten years, used tiny tracking devices, and GPS technology that pinpointed the pigeons' routes down to between one and four yards. Many were found to follow highways, turn at junctions and take roundabouts, sometimes adding miles to their journeys. A few newspapers picked up the Reuters story, but here's one: "The A-Z of Homing Pigeons," Stuart Coles, PA News at The Scotsman, 2/5/04.