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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Using MazeSuite and Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Study Learning in Spatial Navigation

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Published on: October 8, 2011

Effects of sun compass error on spatial search by Clark's nutcrackers.

Debbie M Kelly¹, Ken Cheng², Russell Balda³

¹Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

Integrative Zoology

|January 10, 2018

Summary

Clark's nutcrackers navigate using multiple landmarks to maintain accuracy when their sun compass has errors. Using more landmarks improves navigation reliability, compensating for inevitable biological compass inaccuracies.

Keywords:

Clark's nutcracker clock-shift error landmarks sun compass

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Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise

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Published on: January 26, 2024

Area of Science:

Animal behavior
Navigation and orientation
Avian cognition

Background:

Animals use various cues, including celestial (sun compass) and terrestrial landmarks, for navigation.
Biological compass systems are prone to errors, necessitating robust mechanisms for maintaining navigational accuracy.
The role of multiple landmarks in mitigating sun compass error is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how Clark's nutcrackers utilize multiple landmarks to compensate for sun compass errors.
To determine if an increased number of landmarks enhances navigational accuracy under simulated compass error conditions.

Main Methods:

Clark's nutcrackers were trained to cache seeds in an outdoor aviary.
Experiments involved either one or four landmarks, with subsequent exposure to clock-shifts simulating compass error.
Search accuracy after clock-shifts was measured in relation to the number of landmarks present.

Main Results:

A significant decrease in search accuracy was observed following clock-shifts when only one landmark was present.
No significant decrease in search accuracy was found when four landmarks were present after clock-shifts.
These findings suggest that nutcrackers integrate information from both the sun compass and multiple terrestrial landmarks.

Conclusions:

Multiple landmarks can effectively buffer against small errors in the sun compass during spatial navigation.
Clark's nutcrackers exhibit flexible use of spatial cues, integrating celestial and terrestrial information for accurate navigation.
This study supports the hypothesis that redundant spatial cues enhance navigational robustness in animals.