Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Migration00:53

Migration

Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
Field Application of Global Positioning System01:28

Field Application of Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become an indispensable tool in fieldwork, offering unparalleled precision and efficiency for surveying, navigation, and infrastructure development. By harnessing signals from a constellation of satellites, GPS receivers determine the location of objects with remarkable speed and accuracy, often completing calculations within a second.Advantages of Modern GPS TechnologyContemporary GPS receivers are designed to meet the practical demands of field...
Errors in Global Positioning System01:26

Errors in Global Positioning System

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has revolutionized navigation and positioning, but its accuracy is often compromised by various errors. These errors, stemming from environmental, satellite, and receiver-related factors, require careful mitigation to ensure reliable performance across applications.Atmospheric ErrorsGPS signals travel through the Earth’s ionosphere and troposphere, introducing delays which affect accuracy. The ionosphere is strongly influenced by charged particles,...
Design Example: Identifying the Locations of Monuments in the Field Using Global Positioning System Device01:30

Design Example: Identifying the Locations of Monuments in the Field Using Global Positioning System Device

Surveyors use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to measure the precise location and elevation of points on Earth. In a recent survey, GPS receivers were used to determine the coordinates and elevations of two park monuments. The process involved careful mission planning, data collection, and correction to ensure accuracy. The survey began with mission planning to identify optimal satellite visibility and minimize Position Dilution of Precision (PDOP). A geodetic control point served as...
Types of Global Positioning System Surveys01:30

Types of Global Positioning System Surveys

GPS surveying methods vary in application, accuracy, and data collection techniques, catering to diverse surveying and mapping needs. Static GPS, kinematic GPS, and real-time kinematic (RTK) surveying are widely used. Each technique offers distinct advantages.Static GPS involves placing one receiver at a known reference point and another at the target point. It collects exact positional data by observing multiple satellite ranges over an extended period, achieving centimeter-level accuracy for...
Introduction to Global Positioning System01:30

Introduction to Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System (GPS) revolutionized positioning on Earth, providing precise location data through satellite ranging. The GPS system was developed in 1978 by the U.S. Department of Defense  for military use, and it became available for civilian applications in 1983, transforming fields including navigation, fleet management, and time synchronization for telecommunications systems.GPS consists of satellites in medium Earth orbit, about 20,200 kilometers above the surface,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Multi-sensor tracking reveals the extent of nocturnal migration in landbirds.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Homing pigeon navigation relies on superparamagnetic macrophages under overcast conditions.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Disruptive effects of brief radiofrequency noise exposure on migratory bat navigation.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Naïve young Homing pigeons (Columba livia) learn efficient routes home but are not tied to those routes.

Behavioural processes·2026
Same author

Strategies to assess PFAS emissions from a fluoropolymer manufacturing plant.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)·2026
Same author

Phenological Plasticity and Its Temperature-Related Drivers in Common Songbirds Across Europe.

Global change biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Using Pharmacological Manipulation and High-precision Radio Telemetry to Study the Spatial Cognition in Free-ranging Animals
08:28

Using Pharmacological Manipulation and High-precision Radio Telemetry to Study the Spatial Cognition in Free-ranging Animals

Published on: November 6, 2016

The bird GPS - long-range navigation in migrants.

Kasper Thorup1, Richard A Holland

  • 1Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. kthorup@snm.ku.dk

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|November 3, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Migrating birds possess an experience-based navigation system, akin to a Global Positioning System (GPS), enabling them to orient themselves over long distances. However, the precise mechanisms, especially for determining longitude, remain an active area of research.

More Related Videos

A Video Surveillance System to Monitor Breeding Colonies of Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo)
07:39

A Video Surveillance System to Monitor Breeding Colonies of Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo)

Published on: July 22, 2018

Enhancing an Avian Sound Recognition Model's Detection Precision via Logistic Regression of Large Acoustic Datasets: A Case Study of the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
10:55

Enhancing an Avian Sound Recognition Model's Detection Precision via Logistic Regression of Large Acoustic Datasets: A Case Study of the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Published on: April 11, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Using Pharmacological Manipulation and High-precision Radio Telemetry to Study the Spatial Cognition in Free-ranging Animals
08:28

Using Pharmacological Manipulation and High-precision Radio Telemetry to Study the Spatial Cognition in Free-ranging Animals

Published on: November 6, 2016

A Video Surveillance System to Monitor Breeding Colonies of Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo)
07:39

A Video Surveillance System to Monitor Breeding Colonies of Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo)

Published on: July 22, 2018

Enhancing an Avian Sound Recognition Model's Detection Precision via Logistic Regression of Large Acoustic Datasets: A Case Study of the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
10:55

Enhancing an Avian Sound Recognition Model's Detection Precision via Logistic Regression of Large Acoustic Datasets: A Case Study of the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Published on: April 11, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Ornithology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Navigation Science

Background:

  • Modern technology like GPS aids human navigation.
  • Long-distance migrating birds demonstrate sophisticated navigation abilities, comparable to a human GPS.
  • Determining longitude presents a significant challenge in navigation for both humans and animals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the existence and mechanisms of an experience-based navigation system in migrating birds.
  • To investigate how birds determine their position and navigate over long distances, particularly concerning longitude.
  • To highlight the need for further research into avian navigation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing experimental data on bird navigation.
  • Analysis of studies on experienced vs. first-time migrating birds.
  • Consideration of potential navigation cues: celestial, geomagnetic, and olfactory.

Main Results:

  • Experienced birds can reorient and navigate to destinations even after displacement.
  • Evidence suggests birds possess an internal navigation system, functioning like a GPS.
  • Current research has not definitively identified the method birds use to determine longitude.

Conclusions:

  • Avian navigation systems are highly effective but not fully understood.
  • Multiple sensory cues (celestial, geomagnetic, olfactory) are potential factors in determining longitude.
  • Integrated research combining field and laboratory studies is crucial for deciphering bird navigation mechanisms.