Publications

finding the best angle: pigeons (columba livia) weight angular information more heavily than relative wall length in an open-field geometry task.	pigeons were trained to locate food in two geometrically equivalent corners of a parallelogram-shaped enclosure. both the angular amplitude of the corners and the length of the walls alone were sufficient for successfully completing the task. following training, birds were tested in three separate conditions that manipulated the geometric information available. during tests in both a rectangular-shaped enclosure that preserved the wall length information but not the angular amplitude, and a rhom ...	2011	21918871
Impact of urban environment and host phenotype on the epidemiology of Chlamydiaceae in feral pigeons (Columba livia).	Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria found all over the world and known to cause various forms of disease in animals and humans. Urban pigeons are known to be an important reservoir of Chlamydia psittaci, the agent of human psittacosis. In this study, we examined the influence of pigeon houses used to regulate pigeon populations and of melanin-based coloration on several epidemiological parameters of Chlamydiaceae in 708 urban pigeons in Paris. We also identified speci ...	2011	21933318
Influenza A virus monitoring in urban and free-ranging pigeon populations in Germany, 2006-2008.	Tracheal and cloacal swabs as well as blood samples from 408 feral urban (Columba livia forma domestica) and 170 free-ranging wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) in Germany were tested for infection with avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Neither influenza A virus was isolated in the swab samples nor influenza A virus RNA detected using real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-qPCR). In three urban feral pigeons, avian paramyxovirus (APMV) serotype 1 was isolated. Two of 123 serum samples from hunted fr ...	2011	22017045
Indirect evidence for microbiota reduction through dietary mannanoligosaccharides in the pigeon, an avian species without functional caeca.	A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) on nutrient digestibility, intestinal pH, gut morphology and faecal bacteriology of pigeons, as model for birds without functional caeca. Sixteen adult pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were randomly allotted to either an extruded pellet diet with or without 0.4% MOS. After an adaptation period of 24 days, excreta were collected during 4 days. Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients were determined using t ...	2011	22074297
conceptual thresholds for same and different in old-(macaca mulatta) and new-world (cebus apella) monkeys.	learning of the relational same/different (s/d) concept has been demonstrated to be largely dependent upon stimulus sets containing more than two items for pigeons and old-world monkeys. stimulus arrays containing several images for use in same/different discrimination procures (e.g. 16 identical images vs. 16 nonidentical images) have been shown to facilitate and even be necessary for learning of relational concepts (flemming et al., 2007; wasserman et al., 2001; young et al., 1997). in the pre ...	2011	21238555
interpreting the effects of image manipulation on picture perception in pigeons (columba livia) and humans (homo sapiens).	the effects of picture manipulations on humans' and pigeons' performance were examined in a go/no-go discrimination of two perceptually similar categories, cat and dog faces. four types of manipulation were used to modify the images. mosaicization and scrambling were used to produce degraded versions of the training stimuli, while morphing and cell exchange were used to manipulate the relative contribution of positive and negative training stimuli to test stimuli. mosaicization mainly removes in ...	2011	21244138
group decisions and individual differences: route fidelity predicts flight leadership in homing pigeons (columba livia).	how social-living animals make collective decisions is currently the subject of intense scientific interest, with increasing focus on the role of individual variation within the group. previously, we demonstrated that during paired flight in homing pigeons, a fully transitive leadership hierarchy emerges as birds are forced to choose between their own and their partner's habitual routes. this stable hierarchy suggests a role for individual differences mediating leadership decisions within homing ...	2011	20810431
high-throughput gender identification of three columbidae species using melting curve analysis.	the objective was to perform high-throughput gender identification of three columbidae species (columba livia, columba pulchricollis, and streptopelia tranquebarica). although the chromo-helicase-dna binding protein (chd)-based griffiths p2/p8 primer set resolved the amplicon products of these species in 3% agarose gel electrophoresis, it was unsuitable for molecular gender identification using the melting curve analysis (mca) curve for high-throughput analysis. after sequencing the chd-z and ch ...	2011	20833415
behavioral profile and fos activation of serotonergic and non-serotonergic raphe neurons after central injections of serotonin in the pigeon (columba livia).	central injections of serotonin (5-ht) in food-deprived/refed pigeons evoke a sequence of hypophagic, hyperdipsic and sleep-like responses that resemble the postprandial behavioral sequence. fasting-refeeding procedures affect sleep and drinking behaviors "per se". here, we describe the behavioral profile and long-term food/water intake following intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of 5-ht (50, 150, 300 nmol/2 µl) in free-feeding/drinking pigeons. the patterns of fos activity (fos+) in sero ...	2011	21310184
sarcocystis calchasi-associated neurologic disease in a domestic pigeon in north america.	tissue cysts of a protozoan parasite were present in the skeletal muscle of a domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica) with neurologic disease in minnesota, usa. the animal had a severe granulomatous meningoencephalitis. the cysts were slender, up to 1 mm long and up to 0.03 mm in diameter. the cysts had a smooth wall without projections. size and wall morphology were compatible with sarcocystis calchasi. polymerase chain reaction using s. calchasi-specific primers resulted in a specific amp ...	2011	21848932
[Peculiarities of secondary structure of serum albumin of some representatives of the animal kingdom].	Methods of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) are suitable techniques for detection of proteins structural changes. These methods were used for determinating peculiarities of the secondary structure of serum albumins in some representatives of two classes of reptiles: Horsfield's tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi), water snake (Natrix tessellata) and grass snake (Natrix natrix) and birds: domestic goose (Anser anser), domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), domestic duck (Anas platy ...	2011	21888056
plasma and whole brain cholinesterase activities in three wild bird species in mosul, iraq: in vitro inhibition by insecticides.	plasma and brain cholinesterase activities were determined in three wild bird species to assess their exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides which are used in agriculture and public health. in the present study, we used an electrometric method for measurement of cholinesterase activities in the plasma and whole brain of three indigenous wild birds commonly found in northern iraq. the birds used were apparently healthy adults of both sexes (8 birds/species, comprising 3-5 from eac ...	2011	22058655
prevalence of chlamydia psittaci in the feral pigeon population of basel, switzerland.	feral pigeons (columba livia) are commonly infected with chlamydia psittaci, the agent of psittacosis in humans. to assess the zoonotic risk posed by feral pigeons in the urban environment, we examined the presence of the chlamydia psittaci outer membrane protein a (ompa) gene in pharyngeal and cloacal samples of 202 feral pigeons present in a loft in basel, switzerland. additionally, we examined 620 fresh faecal droppings of feral pigeons at 6 public sites in basel. the ompa gene of c. psittaci ...	2011	21921110
helminth community composition, structure, and pattern in six dove species (columbiformes: columbidae) of south texas.	abstract abstract: the helminth community composition and structure of 6 species of columbids residing in south texas are reported and compared herein. sixty rock pigeons, columba livia (rp), mourning doves, zenaida macroura (md), eurasian collared-doves, streptopelia decaocto (ecd), white-winged doves, zenaida asiatica (wwd), common ground doves, columbina passerina (cgd), and 48 inca doves, columbina inca (id), were collected during the summer of 2006 and examined for helminths. twelve he ...	2011	21955248
genetic diversity of the japanese wood pigeon, columba janthina, endemic to islands of east asia, estimated by newly developed microsatellite markers.	the japanese wood pigeon columba janthina is endemic to islands of east asia and is listed as near threatened by the international union for conservation of nature (iucn). one subspecies, c. janthina nitens, in particular, is at the greatest risk of extinction due to its small population size. to reduce the extinction risk of c. janthina, it is important to understand the species' present genetic status and to develop an appropriate conservation plan based on genetic data. we developed seven new ...	2011	22132786
afferent and efferent projections of the mesopallium in the pigeon (columba livia).	the mesopallium is a thick cell plate occupying a substantial portion of the avian dorsal pallium, but its hodology is incompletely known. in pigeons we examined fiber connections of the frontodorsal (mfd) and frontoventral mesopallium (mfv), the ventrolateral mesopallium (mvl), the lateral (mivl) and medial (mivm) parts of the intermediate ventral mesopallium, and the caudal mesopallium (mc). mfv, mivl, and mc connect reciprocally with secondary centers of the trigeminal, tectofugal, and audito ...	2011	21935938
telencephalic organization of the olfactory system in homing pigeons (columba livia).	pigeons use olfactory cues to navigate over unfamiliar areas, and any impairment of the olfactory system generates remarkable reduction of homing performance. lesion and deprivation studies suggest a critical involvement of the right nostril and thus, the right olfactory bulb (ob) and the left piriform cortex (cpi) for initial orientation. this functional pattern suggests that ob and cpi are asymmetrically connected with a stronger projection from the right ob to the left cpi. however, the struc ...	2011	21846495
possible cues driving context-specific adaptation of optocollic reflex in pigeons (columba livia).	context-specific adaptation (shelhamer m, clendaniel r. neurosci lett 332: 200-204, 2002) explains that reflexive responses can be maintained with different "calibrations" for different situations (contexts). which context cues are crucial and how they combine to evoke context-specific adaptation is not fully understood. gaze stabilization in birds is a nice model with which to tackle that question. previous data showed that when pigeons (columba livia) were hung in a harness and subjected to a ...	2011	22049337
mechanical properties of the avian acrocoracohumeral ligament and its role in shoulder stabilization in flight.	control of movement in the avian shoulder joint is fundamental to understanding the avian wingstroke. the acrocoracohumeral ligament (ahl) is thought to play a key role in stabilizing the glenoid and balancing the pectoralis in gliding flight. if the ahl has to be taut to balance the pectoralis, then it must constrain glenohumeral motion during flapping flight as well. however, birds vary wing kinematics depending on flight speed and behavior. how can a passive ligament accommodate such varying ...	2011	22105988
The distribution of zebrin immunoreactive purkinje cell terminals in the cerebellar and vestibular nuclei of birds.	Zebrin II (aldolase C) is expressed in a subset Purkinje cells in the mammalian and avian cerebella such that there is a characteristic parasagittal organization of zebrin immunopositive stripes alternating with zebrin immunonegative stripes. Zebrin is not only expressed in the soma and dendrites of Purkinje cells, but also in their axonal terminals. Here, we describe the distribution of zebrin immunoreactivity in both the vestibular and cerebellar nuclei of pigeons (Columbia livia) and hummingb ...	2011	22105608
characterization of new medium-chain alcohol dehydrogenases adds resolution to duplications of the class i/iii and the sub-class i genes.	four additional variants of alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases have been purified and functionally characterized, and their primary structures have been determined. the results allow conclusions about the structural and evolutionary relationships within the large family of mdr alcohol dehydrogenases from characterizations of the pigeon (columba livia) and dogfish (scyliorhinus canicula) major liver alcohol dehydrogenases. the pigeon enzyme turns out to be of class i type and the dogfish enzyme ...	2011	21329683
prevalence and pathological lesion of trichomonas gallinae in pigeons of iran.	this research was conducted to determine the prevalence and pathological lesion of trichomonas gallinae in pigeons in the northeast part of iran. wet mount preparations from the oral cavity/crop of 418 pigeons (columba livia) captured from various locations in khorasan province analyzed for t. gallinae by giemsa's staining between april 2008 and june 2009. a total of 418 pigeons, 37.32% (n = 156) were infected with t. gallinae. macroscopically, the oropharynx of infected pigeons has white, caseo ...	2011	23024501
new records of haemoproteus and plasmodium (sporozoa: haemosporida) of rock pigeon (columba livia) in india.	the prevalence, intensity and morpho-variants of new species of haemosporida (haemoproteus and plasmodium) from the rock pigeon, columba livia are described and illustrated for the first time from uttar pradesh state of india. thin blood smears from 266 c. livia indicated 55.63% (haemoproteus) and 6.76% (plasmodium) prevalence and 1-6 pars/100 rbc's (haemoproteus) and 1-2 pars/100 rbc's (plasmodium) intensity of infection. the fully grown intracellular gametocytes of haemoproteus were differenti ...	2011	23024498
[avian diversity and bird strike risk at fuyang airport].	from june 2008 to january 2010, a survey of avian communities was conducted in five habitats (grassland, farmland, town, wetland, and woodland) at fuyang airport and its surrounding areas, with the diversity indices in different seasons and different habitats analyzed. a total of 122 avian species belonging to 15 orders and 40 families were recorded. at fuyang airport, the avian species number was significantly higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring, the avian density was the high ...	2011	22007473
pigeons steer like helicopters and generate down- and upstroke lift during low speed turns.	turning is crucial for animals, particularly during predator-prey interactions and to avoid obstacles. for flying animals, turning consists of changes in (i) flight trajectory, or path of travel, and (ii) body orientation, or 3d angular position. changes in flight trajectory can only be achieved by modulating aerodynamic forces relative to gravity. how birds coordinate aerodynamic force production relative to changes in body orientation during turns is key to understanding the control strategies ...	2011	22123982
newcastle disease in the european union 2000 to 2009.	newcastle disease (nd) is a devastating disease of poultry that has to some extent been neglected by those working in the field in the past 10 to 15 years while attention has been focused on the emergence and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by a h5n1 subtype virus. during 2000 to 2009 in the european union (eu) member states, nd viruses virulent for chickens have been detected in wild birds, domesticated pigeons and poultry. based on these isolations it appears that the epizoo ...	2011	22107088
prevalence of haemoproteus columbae and trichomonas gallinae in pigeons (columba domestica) in isfahan, iran.	the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of haemoproteus columbae and trichomonas gallinae in pigeons (columba domestica) in isfahan, iran. study was done on 100 pigeons from january to june 2010 in isfahan located in south of iran. oropharyngeal swabs were taken from all birds. also blood samples were obtained from wing vein and thin smears were prepared from them. all smears were stained by giemsa and were examined by immersion. out of 100 oropharyngeal swab smears 57 (57%) were p ...	2011	23542461
prevalence of pigeon haemosporidians and effect of infection on biochemical factors in iran.	prevalence of pigeon haemosporidians and effect of infection with haemoproteus columbae on biochemical factors were investigated in 280 wild pigeons (columba livia) captured from various locations in khorasan province, in eastern of iran, between april 2008 and june 2009. infection prevalence with h. columbae and leucocytozoon was detected 50 and 2%, respectively. however, no pigeon showed infection with plasmodium. alanine aminotransferase (alt), aspartate aminotransferase (ast), and albumin we ...	2011	23024504
tapeworms of rock dove and domestic chicken in taif area, saudi arabia.	the present study aimed to identify the tapeworms that parasitize the rock dove columba livia palastinae and domestic chicken gallus gallus domesticus in taif governorate, saudi arabia. a total of 115 rock doves and 105 domestic chicken have been examined. birds were brought in from the wells and farms inside and outside the city of taif. in rock doves, the percentage of infection was recorded as cotugnia digonopora 5.21%, hymenolepis carioca 10.43%, raillietina echinobothrida 27.82%, raillietin ...	2012	23469626
[sense organs on palps and fore tarsi of gamasid mites (parasitiformes, rhinonyssidae), parasites of the nasal cavity of the great tit, the rock dove, and the eurasian coot].	the main sensory organs (the palpal organ and the tarsal sensory complex) were examined by scanning electron microscopy method in parasites of the nasal cavity of the great tit parus major (ptilonyssus sairae, ptilonyssus pari), the rock dove columba livia (mesonyssus melloi), and the eurasian coot fulica atra (rallinyssus caudistigmus). it was shown that differences in the topography of sensilla within the tarsal complex correspond to the taxonomic relations between species and genera, whereas ...	2012	23458012
the parasitic communities of the rock pigeon columba livia from iraq: component and importance.	the main objectives of the present study were to investigate the rock pigeon parasitic communities from iraq as well as reporting on the prevalence and intensity of various infections from both sexes.	2012	23339946
attentional capture? synchronized feedback signals from the isthmi boost retinal signals to higher visual areas.	when a salient object in the visual field captures attention, the neural representation of that object is enhanced at the expense of competing stimuli. how neural activity evoked by a salient stimulus evolves to take precedence over the neural activity evoked by other stimuli is a matter of intensive investigation. here, we describe in pigeons (columba livia) how retinal inputs to the optic tectum (teo, superior colliculus in mammals), triggered by moving stimuli, are selectively relayed on to t ...	2012	22262908
flexural stiffness of feather shafts: geometry rules over material properties.	flight feathers of birds interact with the flow field during flight. they bend and twist under aerodynamic loads. two parameters are mainly responsible for flexibility in feathers: the elastic modulus (young's modulus, e) of the material (keratin) and the geometry of the rachises, more precisely the second moment of area (i). two independent methods were employed to determine young's modulus of feather rachis keratin. moreover, the second moment of area and the bending stiffness of feather shaft ...	2012	22246249
biodiversity and prevalence of parasites of domestic pigeons (columba livia domestica) in a selected semiarid zone of south khorasan, iran.	five species of nematodes and cestodes were collected from alimentary canals of pigeons: the nematodes were two species: ascaridia colombae (16.66%) and hadjelia truncata (1.96%), while the cestodes were cotugnia digonopora (13.79%), raillietina magninumida (18.62%) and raillietina achinobothridia (32.35%); fecal examination revealed: eimeria spp. (40.19%) and cryptosporidium oocysts (2.94%); and blood smears showed: haemoproteus cloumbae (47/05%); in mouth, throat and larynx: trichomonans galli ...	2012	22081317
Serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptor binding sites in the brain of the pigeon (Columba livia).	Present knowledge about the serotonergic system in birdbrains is very limited, although the pigeon was used as an animal model in various studies focused on the behavioral effects of serotonergic transmission. In the mammalian brain the 5-HT(1A) receptor is the most widespread serotonin receptor type, and is involved in various functions. Less is known about the distribution of 5-HT(1A) receptors in the avian species. Therefore, we analyzed serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptor binding sites in the pigeon ...	2012	22100786
prevalence of parasites and associated risk factors in domestic pigeons (columba livia domestica) and free-range backyard chickens of sistan region, east of iran.	this study was carried out on free-range backyard chickens and domestic pigeons (columba livia domestica) from december 2010 to november 2011 to determine the prevalence, intensity and species of internal and external parasites in sistan region, east of iran. of the total of 59 (27 males and 32 females) free-range backyard chickens and 46 (26 males and 20 females) domestic pigeons inspected, 55 (93.22 %) and 39 (84.78 %) were infected respectively. ten species of free-range backyard chickens par ...	2012	24082532
biochemical and molecular characterization of the cyclophyllidean cestode, cotugnia cuneata (meggit, 1924), an endoparasite of domestic pigeons, columba livia domestica.	analysis of the major biochemical constituents of cotugnia cuneata revealed that the total protein, carbohydrate, glycogen and lipid contents (as percentage of dry weight) were 25.22 ± 0.93, 32.90 ± 0.30, 21.33 ± 0.99 and 9.94 ± 0.42 respectively. the results showed that the carbohydrate content was the highest followed by protein and lipid contents respectively. glycogen content was relatively high which showed that carbohydrate was mainly present in the form of glycogen in these cestodes. the ...	2012	24505187
identification and molecular analysis of pathogenic yeasts in droppings of domestic pigeons in beijing, china.	feral pigeons are known as reservoirs of pathogenic yeasts that cause opportunistic infections in human. in the outskirts of beijing, china, pigeons are more frequently raised at homes than are encountered in public areas. many studies have focused on the presence of pathogenic yeasts in the excreta (fresh or withered) of a variety kinds of birds, pigeon crop and cloacae. one hundred and forty-three samples of fresh droppings were collected from three suburban pigeon-raising homes in an area of ...	2012	22476559
response of maternally isolated rock pigeons (columba livia domestica) to different dietary concentrations of mannan-oligosaccharide.	prebiotics are being used as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry industry with a variable degree of success. this trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary mannan-oligosaccharide (mos) supplementation on growth performance, selected colonic bacterial population, and immune response in maternally-isolated rock pigeons. the pigeons (n = 36) were randomly distributed in 4 treatment groups (n = 9 per group) with 3 replicates or pens (n = 3) in each group. birds we ...	2012	22700504
sex-specific effects of an avian malaria parasite on an insect vector: support for the resource limitation hypothesis.	many parasites, such as those that cause malaria, depend on an insect vector for transmission between vertebrate hosts. theory predicts that parasites should have little or no effect on the transmission ability of vectors, e.g., parasites should not reduce vector life span as this will limit the temporal window of opportunity for transmission. however, if the parasite and vector compete for limited resources, there may be an unavoidable physiological cost to the vector (resource limitation hypot ...	2012	23236915
genetic characterization of a pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 isolated from columba livia in uruguay.	summary. the isolation and molecular characterization of pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (ppmv-1) from a sick racing pigeon in uruguay is reported for the first time. hemagglutination inhibition (hi) tests were performed to detect antibodies against avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (apmv-1), and a hi titer of 1/32 was obtained. tracheal and cloacal swabs were processed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rrt-pcr) with the use of the national veterinary services laboratory-u.s ...	2012	22545555
characterization of pigeon paramyxoviruses (newcastle disease virus) isolated in kazakhstan in 2005.	isolates of newcastle disease virus (ndv) from deceased wild and domestic pigeons in kazakhstan were obtained from the almaty region during 2005 and were genotypically analyzed by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) with primers specific to the viral fusion (f) protein gene. part of the amplified f protein dna product (nucleotide sequence 47-422) and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared phylogenetically with those from strains previously reported in other geo ...	2012	22492000
in vitro isolation and seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in stray cats and pigeons in lisbon, portugal.	oral contamination with toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. pigeons (columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate soil contamination, since they feed from the ground. a seroprevalence study was performed on cats and pigeons captured in the city of lisbon. serum samples collected from 1507 pigeons captured at 64 feeding sites and 423 stray cats were screened for anti ...	2012	22341615
predator fitness increases with selectivity for odd prey.	the fundamental currency of normative models of animal decision making is darwinian fitness. in foraging ecology, empirical studies typically assess foraging strategies by recording energy intake rates rather than realized reproductive performance. this study provides a rare empirical link, in a vertebrate predator-prey system, between a predator's foraging behavior and direct measures of its reproductive fitness. goshawks accipiter gentilis selectively kill rare color variants of their principa ...	2012	22503502
comparison of the metal concentrations in the feathers of three bird species from southern iran.	this study was conducted to determine the concentration of metals, namely cadmium, lead, cobalt and copper, in the feathers of chukar (alectoris chukar), see-see partridge (ammoperdix griseogularis) and rock dove (columba livia) in order to: examine the species, gender and age related variations in trace metal accumulation, and identify any relationships between species. bird samples were collected in february 2012 from the hormod protected area, southern iran and the concentration of metals wer ...	2012	22933174
Identification of shiga toxin and intimin coding genes in Escherichia coli isolates from pigeons (Columba livia) in relation to phylotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns.	Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are responsible for outbreaks of human intestinal diseases worldwide. Pigeons are distributed in public areas and are potential reservoirs for pathogenic bacteria. One hundred fifty-four fresh fecal samples were obtained from trapped pigeons in southeast of Iran and were cultured for isolation of E. coli. The isolates were examined to determine the prevalence of stx1, stx2, and eae genes, antimicrobial resistance, and their phylotypes. The co ...	2012	22105907
new records and a new species of chewing lice (phthiraptera, amblycera, ischnocera) found on columbidae (columbiformes) in pakistan.	the chewing lice (phthiraptera) of columbidae (columbiformes) from pakistan are studied. six species of chewing lice with new host records are recorded and one new species of the genus colpocephalum is described from columba livia in the karachi region. all the columbid chewing lice from pakistan are keyed out and the new species is illustrated and compared with the closest allied species.	2012	22451786
contrasting levels of heavy metals in the feathers of urban pigeons from close habitats suggest limited movements at a restricted scale.	despite restrictions in emissions, heavy metals may remain a major environmental issue due to their numerous sources and their persistence. here, we assessed current levels of 4 metals (copper, cadmium, lead, zinc) in the feathers of 91 feral pigeons (columba livia) from 7 sites in the urbanized region of paris. elements were detected in all pigeons, indicating that metals persist in urbanized areas. the ratio between metal concentrations in the feathers vs. in the environment calculated using d ...	2012	22584112
choice behavior of pigeons (columba livia), college students, and preschool children (homo sapiens) in the monty hall dilemma.	in the monty hall dilemma, an individual chooses between three options, only one of which will deliver a prize. after the initial choice, one of the nonchosen options is revealed as a losing option, and the individual can choose to stay with the original choice or switch to the other remaining option. previous studies have found that most adults stay with their initial choice, although the chances of winning are 2/3 for switching and 1/3 for staying. pigeons, college students, and preschool chil ...	2012	22582816
the long view: a selective review of 40 years of newcastle disease research.	this review is written for the series celebrating the 40th year since the first issue of avian pathology. the aim of the authors was to cover the developments in newcastle disease (nd) research over the last 40 years that they considered significant. during those 40 years there have been several panzootics of this serious disease in poultry and for the last 30 years there has been a continuing panzootic in domestic pigeons, which has spread to wild birds and poultry. the 40-year period began wit ...	2012	22834545
intense flight and endotoxin injection elicit similar effects on leukocyte distributions but dissimilar effects on plasma-based immunological indices in pigeons.	most birds rely on flight for survival. yet as an energetically taxing and physiologically integrative process, flight has many repercussions. studying pigeons (columba livia) and employing physiological and immunological indices that are relevant to ecologists working with wild birds, we determined what, if any, acute immune-like responses result from bouts of intense, non-migratory flight. we compared the effects of flight with the effects of a simulated bacterial infection. we also investigat ...	2012	22811245
the ontogeny of nutrient transporter and digestive enzyme gene expression in domestic pigeon (columba livia) intestine and yolk sac membrane during pre- and posthatch development.	to better understand the digestive capacity in domestic pigeons (columba livia), this study was conducted to evaluate nutrient transporters and digestive enzymes gene expression in small intestine and yolk sac membrane (ysm) during pre- and posthatch development. we investigated the oligopeptide transporter pept1, sodium glucose transporter sglt1, glucose transporter glut2, aminopeptidase-n (apn), and sucrase-isomaltase (si). intestine was collected at embryo d 12, 14, and 16, day of hatch, and ...	2012	22802193
posthatch development of intestinal morphology and digestive enzyme activities in domestic pigeons (columba livia).	the gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in studies of avian ontogenies because of its key function in nutrient intake. the pattern of intestinal development during postnatal growth in domestic pigeons (columba livia), as an altricial bird, would be different from the pattern observed in precocial poultry. in this study, the intestinal morphology, mucosal enzyme activities, and pancreatic enzyme activities were determined from hatch to 14 d of age in pigeons. rapid morphological develo ...	2012	22802182
how effective is preening against mobile ectoparasites? an experimental test with pigeons and hippoboscid flies.	birds combat ectoparasites with many defences but the first line of defence is grooming behaviour, which includes preening with the bill and scratching with the feet. preening has been shown to be very effective against ectoparasites. however, most tests have been with feather lice, which are relatively slow moving. less is known about the effectiveness of preening as a defence against more mobile and evasive ectoparasites such as hippoboscid flies. hippoboscids, which feed on blood, have direct ...	2012	22787587
evidence for discrete landmark use by pigeons during homing.	considerable efforts have been made to investigate how homing pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) are able to return to their loft from distant, unfamiliar sites while the mechanisms underlying navigation in familiar territory have received less attention. with the recent advent of global positioning system (gps) data loggers small enough to be carried by pigeons, the role of visual environmental features in guiding navigation over familiar areas is beginning to be understood, yet, surprisingly ...	2012	22735350
molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of fatty acid translocase (fat/cd36) in the pigeon (columba livia domestica).	fatty acid translocase (fat/cd36) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays an important role in transporting long-chain fatty acids. in the current study, a full-length cdna of fat/cd36 was first cloned from the intestine of white king pigeon by rapid amplification of cdna ends (race) method. the full-length cdna of pigeon fat/cd36 was 2,282 bp, including a 5'-untranslated region of 224 bp, a 3'-untranslated region of 642 bp, and an open reading frame of 1,416 bp encoding a protein of 471 amin ...	2012	22700514
maintenance of core body temperature in anaesthetised pigeons (columba livia domestica): a comparison of two thermal devices.	active thermal devices are used to prevent hypothermia during anaesthetic procedures. two thermal devices, one conductive and one convective, were compared for their effect on maintenance of core body temperature (cbt) during 1h of general anaesthesia in pigeons (columba livia domestica). in a randomised crossover trial, cbt decreased significantly less with the conductive device than when the convective device was used (2.5 ± 0.7°c and 3.8 ± 0.9°c, respectively; p<0.01). moreover, cbt was maint ...	2012	22695002
visual artificial grammar learning: comparative research on humans, kea (nestor notabilis) and pigeons (columba livia).	artificial grammar learning (agl) provides a useful tool for exploring rule learning strategies linked to general purpose pattern perception. to be able to directly compare performance of humans with other species with different memory capacities, we developed an agl task in the visual domain. presenting entire visual patterns simultaneously instead of sequentially minimizes the amount of required working memory. this approach allowed us to evaluate performance levels of two bird species, kea (n ...	2012	22688635
three-dimensional organisation of rna-processing machinery in avian growing oocyte nucleus.	chromosome architecture and assorted nuclear compartments play an essential role in rna transcription and processing. growing vertebrate oocytes represent an advantageous model to study the principles of nuclear structure and function. in this article, the data on three-dimensional (3d) organisation of intact and non-deformed oocyte nuclei (germinal vesicles) in four species of birds (domestic chicken, japanese quail, rock pigeon and chaffinch) obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy are ...	2012	23318709
the first description of a congenital right ventricular cardiac aneurysm in a pigeon (columba livia domestica, cluj blue tumbler pigeon).	congenital cardiac aneurysms and diverticula are rare cardiac outpouchings first described in humans. our paper describes a congenital cardiac aneurysm in the wall of the right ventricle in a pigeon. a number of pigeons (n = 23), cluj blue tumblers (aves: columbiformes: columbidae: columba livia domestica), were found dead (accidental poisoning) in october 5, 2011 in cluj-napoca, central romania. one individual (a 7-mo-old male) presented with a thin-walled pouch in the wall of the right cardiac ...	2012	23397857
further tests of pigeons' (columba livia) planning behavior using a computerized plus-shaped maze task.	miyata and fujita in 2008 reported that pigeons, trained to move a target square to a goal square by pecking, plan one step ahead while performing on a plus-shaped maze, that is, the birds frequently made errors to move the target toward the previous goal direction after the goal jumped to another arm. in the present study, pigeons' planning using this maze was further examined. in experiment 1, when goals appeared at all three of the arms during solution, the birds did not choose the old goal a ...	2012	23033743
dosing of adult pigeons with as little as one #9 lead pellet caused severe δ-alad depression, suggesting potential adverse effects in wild populations.	avian wildlife species commonly ingest lead (pb) spent shot or bullet fragments as grit or mistakenly as food. in previous studies in our laboratory and others, the toxicity varied based on the diet as well as type and quantity of pb ingested. in the current study, domestic pigeons were gavaged with 1, 2, or 3 pb pellets and then followed with weekly radiographs and blood physiologic endpoints for 28 days. pellet retention decreased by roughly 50 % per week as pellets were either absorbed or exc ...	2012	22903291
a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification approach for sex identification of columbidae birds.	because it is difficult to differentiate male and female columbidae birds (e.g., columba livia) on the basis of morphology, detection of dna fragments associated with chromobox-helicase-dna binding genes or female-specific genes have been widely used. the objective was to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification system involving the 18s ribosomal rna gene and a female-specific gene for sex identification of columba livia birds. unlike polymerase chain reaction (pcr), random amplificati ...	2012	22898019
prevalence of pigeon circovirus infections in feral pigeons in ljubljana, slovenia.	pigeon circovirus (picv) was detected by real-time pcr in cloacal swabs, pharyngeal swabs, and serum samples taken from 74 feral pigeons (columba livia var. domestica) that were caught at various locations in the city of ljubljana, slovenia. picv infections were detected in the majority of the tested birds. the highest (74.3%) detection rate was observed in the cloacal swabs and the lowest (31.1%) in serum samples. picv dna was more readily detected in the cloacal swabs, pharyngeal swabs, and se ...	2012	22856208
study of nebulization delivery of aerosolized fluorescent microspheres to the avian respiratory tract.	this study investigated the delivery of an aerosol of monodisperse microspheres to the respiratory tract of birds following aerosol exposure. adult domestic pigeons (columbia livia domestica, n = 5 birds per timed treatment) were exposed to an aerosol of fluorescent 1.0 microm diameter carboxylate microspheres for 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 hr. during the aerosolization period, the birds were free-standing in a plexiglass treatment chamber and the aerosol was delivered using a commercial nebulizer. immedia ...	2012	22856198
evaluation of three miniplate systems for fracture stabilization in pigeons (columba livia).	bone plates are rarely used in avian fracture management for several reasons, and until recently, there was no plating system considered appropriate for use in birds with a body mass less than 500 g. to evaluate 3 different miniplate systems in avian fracture repair, 3 groups (a, b, and c) of 6 pigeons (columba livia) each were used. the left ulna and radius of the pigeons were transected, and the ulna was stabilized. in group a, a 1.3-mm adaption plate was used. in group b, a limited contact sy ...	2012	23409431
divergence, convergence, and the ancestry of feral populations in the domestic rock pigeon.	domestic pigeons are spectacularly diverse and exhibit variation in more traits than any other bird species [1]. in the origin of species, charles darwin repeatedly calls attention to the striking variation among domestic pigeon breeds-generated by thousands of years of artificial selection on a single species by human breeders-as a model for the process of natural divergence among wild populations and species [2]. darwin proposed a morphology-based classification of domestic pigeon breeds [3], ...	2012	22264611
muscle function during takeoff and landing flight in the pigeon (columba livia).	this study explored the muscle strain and activation patterns of several key flight muscles of the pigeon (columba livia) during takeoff and landing flight. using electromyography (emg) to measure muscle activation, and sonomicrometry to quantify muscle strain, we evaluated the muscle function patterns of the pectoralis, biceps, humerotriceps and scapulotriceps as pigeons flew between two perches. these recordings were analyzed in the context of three-dimensional wing kinematics. to understand t ...	2012	22972885
change detection by rhesus monkeys (macaca mulatta) and pigeons (columba livia).	two monkeys (macaca mulatta) learned a color change-detection task where two colored circles (selected from a 4-color set) were presented on a 4 × 4 invisible matrix. following a delay, the correct response was to touch the changed colored circle. the monkeys' learning, color transfer, and delay transfer were compared to a similar experiment with pigeons. monkeys, like pigeons (columba livia), showed full transfer to four novel colors, and to delays as long as 6.4 s, suggesting they remembered t ...	2012	22428982
hematology and enzyme histochemistry of peripheral blood lymphocytes in domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica).	the purpose of our study was to determine the percentages of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (anae)-positive and acid phosphatase (acp)-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes (pbl) in both sexes of one-year-old domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica). blood samples obtained from 12 healthy domestic pigeons were used. the mean percentages of anae-positive pbl for females and males were 47.8% and 48.8%, respectively, whereas the mean percentages of acp-positive pbl were 67.5% and 68.6%, respe ...	2012	22409509
non-canonical cajal bodies form in the nucleus of late stage avian oocytes lacking functional nucleolus.	in the somatic cell nucleus, there are several universal domains such as nucleolus, sc35-domains, cajal bodies (cbs) and histone locus bodies (hlbs). among them, cbs were described more than 100 years ago; however, we still do not have a final understanding of their nature and biological significance. the giant nucleus of avian and amphibian growing oocytes represents an advantageous model for analysis of functions and biogenesis of various nuclear domains. nevertheless, in large-sized avian ooc ...	2012	22382586
analgesic effects of meloxicam administration on postoperative orthopedic pain in domestic pigeons (columba livia).	to assess the analgesic effects of 2 doses of meloxicam on the degree of postoperative orthopedic pain in pigeons.	2012	22369527
evaluation of a fracture pain model in domestic pigeons (columba livia).	to validate a model of postfracture pain in perching birds.	2012	22369526
comparison of assessment of pigeon sperm viability by contrast-phase microscope (eosin-nigrosin staining) and flow cytometry (sybr-14/propidium iodide (pi) staining) [evaluation of pigeon sperm viability].	the aim of these experiments was to compare the conventional, microscopic method of evaluating pigeon sperm viability to sperm assessed by flow cytometry. semen was collected twice a week from two groups of pigeons. in every group were 20 males (group i: meat-type breed; group ii: fancy pigeon breed). semen was collected using the lumbosacral and cloacal region massage method. ejaculates collected from each group were pooled and diluted to 10 × 10(6) sperm/ml in bpse solution. samples were divid ...	2012	22056017
acquisition of a same-different discrimination task by pigeons (columba livia).	four homing pigeons were trained to discriminate two figures simultaneously presented on an lcd screen. the figure was either a rectangle (a) or a square (b), and four combinations of the two figures, aa, ab, ba, bb, appeared in a pseudo-randomized order. the pigeons' task was to peck one of these figures based upon whether the two figures were identical or not. one pigeon successfully learned this discrimination, with proportions of correct responses above 90% in two consecutive sessions. of th ...	2012	22489391
use of slope and feature cues in pigeon (columba livia) goal-searching behavior.	terrain slope provides a directional frame of reference for reorientation and navigation, similar to cardinal directions. previous studies have shown that, in a goal location task, slope is a very salient cue and that pigeons tend to rely on it even if it is not the most informative cue. such a strong dependence on one type of information, when there are more effective predictors of reward, is a key premise for a modular view of information processing. here we tested the provocative hypothesis o ...	2012	22390622
[new drugs for small animals in 2011].	in 2011, nine active pharmaceutical ingredients were released on the german market for small animals. those are the cyclooxygenase-2-inhibitor cimicoxib (cimalgex®), the opium-derived analgesic methadone (comfortan®), the antiemetic metoclopramide (emeprid®), the corticosteroid mometasone furoate in combination with the antifungal agent posaconazole (posatex®), the fluorchinolone-antibiotic pradofloxacin (veraflox®), the insecticide spinosad (comfortis®), the cytostatic toceranib (palladia®) and ...	2012	23076019
smoke signals and carrier pigeons.		2012	22572061
infections with sarcocystis wenzeli are prevalent in the chickens of yunnan province, china, but not in the flocks of domesticated pigeons or ducks.	the distribution and prevalence of infections with species of sarcocystis in domestic fowl in asia are poorly known. here, ducks, pigeons, and chickens from yunnan province, china were examined for evidence of parasitic infection with sarcocystis spp. one hundred and ninety one chickens, 514 ducks, and nine pigeons were investigated. whereas the ducks and pigeons lacked tissue cysts in their muscle, brain or peripheral nervous system, cysts of sarcocystis wenzeli were identified in 17 of 191 chi ...	2012	22426033
qualitative and quantitative evaluation of avian demineralized bone matrix in heterotopic beds.	to evaluate the osteogenic potential of avian demineralized bone matrix (dbm) in the context of implant geometry.	2013	24117844
ethnobotanic importance of plants used in pigeon-breeding in eastern spain.	the importance that birds of the columbidae family have had throughout history is visible on the mediterranean coast. pigeon fancying is the art of breeding and training carrier pigeons and currently, several breeds exist. the sport of racing pigeons consists in covering a distance at maximum possible speed. however, pigeon breeding has another modality called "sport pigeon", where several males follow a female. this study focusses on ethnobotanical knowledge of native and exotic plant species t ...	2013	23688245
new records and new species of mites of the subfamily harpirhynchinae (acariformes: harpirhynchidae) infesting birds in manitoba, canada.	five new species and one new genus of the subfamily harpirhynchinae (acariformes: harpirhynchidae) are described from birds in canada: harpyrhynchoides heatherae sp. nov. from junco hyemalis (passeriformes: emberizidae), h. botaurus sp. nov. from botaurus lentiginosus (pelecaniformes: ardeidae), h. phalaropus sp. nov. from phalaropus lobatus (charadriiformes: scolopacidae), neharpyrhynchus loxia sp. nov. from loxia curvirostra (passeriformes: fringillidae), and fainharpirhynchus contopus gen. no ...	2013	24338301
state-level approaches to managing the use of contraceptives in wildlife in the united states.	several fertility control agents have recently been registered with the u.s. environmental protection agency for management of wildlife or other free-ranging animals. the registration of gonacon immunocontraceptive vaccine for use in white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) and ovocontrol for use in canada geese (branta canadensis) and pigeons (columba livia) has caused state wildlife and land management agencies to review their regulatory authority over the use of contraceptives in wildlife. ...	2013	24437085
serotonergic control of ingestive and post-ingestive behaviors in pigeons (columba livia): the role of 5-ht1a receptor-mediated central mechanisms.	central injections of serotonin (5-ht) produce hyperdipsic and hypnogenic behavioral effects that are correlated to decreased fos-immunorreactivity of 5-ht neurons in free-feeding pigeons. we herein (1) probed the role of 5-ht(1a) receptors on the 5-ht- or 8-oh-dpat-evoked postprandial behaviors and (2) described the sleep-waking states (waking, w; drowsiness, d; slow-wave sleep, sws; rapid-eye movement sleep, rems) and sleep architecture of free-feeding pigeons after these treatments. latency, ...	2013	22954717
modulation of the host th1 immune response in pigeon protozoal encephalitis caused by sarcocystis calchasi.	pigeon protozoal encephalitis (ppe) is an emerging central-nervous disease of domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) reported in germany and the united states. it is caused by the apicomplexan parasite sarcocystis calchasi which is transmitted by accipter hawks. in contrast to other members of the apicomplexa such as toxoplasma and plasmodium, the knowledge about the pathophysiology and host manipulation of sarcocystis is scarce and almost nothing is known about ppe. here we show by mrna ...	2013	23398807
food availability and maternal immunization affect transfer and persistence of maternal antibodies in nestling pigeons.	the ability of mothers to transfer antibodies (abs) to their young and the temporal persistence of maternal abs in offspring constitute important life-history traits that can impact the evolution of host-parasite interactions. here, we examined the effects of food availability and parental immunization on the transfer and persistence of maternal antibodies in nestling pigeons (columba livia). this species can transmit maternal abs to offspring before hatching through the egg yolk and potentially ...	2013	24348905
plasma exogenous creatinine excretion for the assessment of renal function in avian medicine--pharmacokinetic modeling in racing pigeons (columba livia).	the diagnostic evaluation of the glomerular filtration rate by urinary clearance has significant practical limitations in birds because urine is excreted together with feces. thus, pharmacokinetic modeling of an exogenous plasma creatinine clearance could be useful for assessing renal creatinine excretion in birds. for this study, creatinine (50 mg/kg) was administered to 2 groups of 15 pigeons (columba livia) each; in one group by the intravenous (iv) route and in the second by the intramuscula ...	2013	24344507
collective learning in route navigation.	in a recent paper,(1) we examined how experience of repeatedly flying with a specific partner influences pigeons' subsequent navigational decision-making in larger flocks. we found that pairs develop into a "behavioral unit" through their shared experience of joint flights, acquiring a single idiosyncratic route during training, and then forming spatially distinct subgroups when flying with other pairs. further, differences between the route preferences of different pairs appear to be reconciled ...	2013	24505504
[examinations on the pharmacokinetics and compatibility of enalapril in racing pigeons].	it was the aim of this study to examine the compatibility and the pharmacokinetics of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril after oral application in racing pigeons and amazons, and to contribute to a safe dosage regime of this drug in birds.	2013	24127029
detection of magnetic field intensity gradient by homing pigeons (columba livia) in a novel "virtual magnetic map" conditioning paradigm.	it has long been thought that birds may use the earth's magnetic field not only as a compass for direction finding, but that it could also provide spatial information for position determination analogous to a map during navigation. since magnetic field intensity varies systematically with latitude and theoretically could also provide longitudinal information during position determination, birds using a magnetic map should be able to discriminate magnetic field intensity cues in the laboratory. h ...	2013	24039812
evaluation of two methods for quantifying passeriform lice.	two methods commonly used to quantify ectoparasites on live birds are visual examination and dust-ruffling. visual examination provides an estimate of ectoparasite abundance based on an observer's timed inspection of various body regions on a bird. dust-ruffling involves application of insecticidal powder to feathers that are then ruffled to dislodge ectoparasites onto a collection surface where they can then be counted. despite the common use of these methods in the field, the proportion of act ...	2013	24039328
the behavioral satiety sequence in pigeons (columba livia). description and development of a method for quantitative analysis.	the postprandial event known as the specific dynamic action is an evolutionarily conserved physiological set of metabolic responses to feeding. its behavioral counterpart, a sequence of drinking, maintenance (e.g., grooming) and sleep-like behaviors known as the behavioral satiety sequence (bss), has been thoroughly described in rodents and has enabled the refined evaluation of potential appetite modifiers. however, the presence and attributes of a bss have not been systematically studied in non ...	2013	24021922
analysis of oxygen affinity in aquatic amphibian; homology modelling of the major haemoglobin component hba1 from the african clawed frog (xenopus laevis, anura).	the homology model of major haemoglobin component hba1 of the african clawed frog was predicted using the pigeon (columba livia) haemoglobin as a template. the model was built with the help of modeller9v8. the models were evaluated with prosa and procheck. in x. laevis gln38α is unable to form a hydrogen bond with β97his or β99asp, which is responsible for the increase in oxygen affinity of the xenopus hba1. the hydrogen bond between α34thr and β124pro, which stabilises the deoxy state of the ha ...	2013	24001722
a val85met mutation in melanocortin-1 receptor is associated with reductions in eumelanic pigmentation and cell surface expression in domestic rock pigeons (columba livia).	variation in the melanocortin-1 receptor (mc1r) is associated with pigmentation diversity in wild and domesticated populations of vertebrates, including several species of birds. among domestic bird species, pigmentation variation in the rock pigeon (columbalivia) is particularly diverse. to determine the potential contribution of mc1r variants to pigment diversity in pigeons, we sequenced mc1r in a wide range of pigeon breeds and identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms, including a v ...	2013	23977400
plasma protein electrophoresis in birds: comparison of a semiautomated agarose gel system with an automated capillary system.	plasma agarose gel electrophoresis (age) is recognized as a very reliable diagnostic tool in avian medicine. within the last 10 years, new electrophoresis techniques such as capillary zone electrophoresis (cze) have emerged in human laboratory medicine but have never been investigated in birds. to investigate the use of cze in birds and to compare it with age, plasma samples from 30 roosters (gallus gallus), 20 black kites (milvus migrans), and 10 racing pigeons (columba livia) were analyzed by ...	2013	23971218
an avifaunal survey of mesic manmade ecosystems "oases" in algerian hot-hyperarid lands.	man made ecosystems of dry lands are key habitats due to their ecological characteristics to survey biodiversity. this study investigated bird diversity in three oases of the northern algerian sahara (i.e., biskra in 2006, oued souf in 2008 and ouargla in 2009), by using the spot-mapping method. bird density "d" (pairs/10 ha), species richness "s" (number species), diversity (shannon index) "h'" (in bits), and evenness "e" varied from one oasis to another (biskra: d = 98.5, s = 47, h' = 4.49, e ...	2013	23961217
color differences among feral pigeons (columba livia) are not attributable to sequence variation in the coding region of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (mc1r).	genetic variation at the melanocortin-1 receptor (mc1r) gene is correlated with melanin color variation in many birds. feral pigeons (columba livia) show two major melanin-based colorations: a red coloration due to pheomelanic pigment and a black coloration due to eumelanic pigment. furthermore, within each color type, feral pigeons display continuous variation in the amount of melanin pigment present in the feathers, with individuals varying from pure white to a full dark melanic color. colorat ...	2013	23915680
testing cognitive navigation in unknown territories: homing pigeons choose different targets.	homing pigeons (columba livia) are believed to adopt a map-and-compass strategy to find their way home. surprisingly, to date a clear demonstration of the use of a cognitive map in free-flight experiments is missing. in this study, we investigated whether homing pigeons use a mental map in which - at an unknown release site - their own position, the home loft and a food loft are represented simultaneously. in order to test this, homing pigeons were trained to fly to a 25-30 km distant food loft. ...	2013	23885090
theoretical modelling of wakes from retractable flapping wings in forward flight.	a free-wake method is used to simulate the wake from retractable, jointed wings. the method serves to complement existing experimental studies that visualise flying animal wakes. simulated wakes are shown to be numerically convergent for a case study of the rock pigeon in minimum power cruising flight. the free-wake model is robust in simulating wakes for a range of wing geometries and dynamics without requiring changes to the numerical method. the method is found to be useful for providing low ...	2013	23882442
effects of in ovo feeding of carbohydrates on hatchability, body weight, and energy status in domestic pigeons (columba livia).	the effects of in ovo feeding of carbohydrates on hatchability, bw, yolk sac weights (ysw), pectoral muscle weights (pmw), liver and pectoral muscle glycogen concentration, serum glucose level, and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity of domestic pigeons, hatched from eggs laid by a 40-wk-old breeder flock, were investigated. at 14.5 of incubation, fertile eggs were injected with 200 μl of 1.5% maltose (m) + 1.5% sucrose (s), 2.5% m + 2.5% s, 3.5% m + 3.5% s, or 4.5% m + 4.5% s in 0.75% saline ...	2013	23873560