Just watching the history channel. During WWII they tried training pigeons to steer the flaps on bombs to particular targets. An average of 10% of regular bombs hit near their targets. Apparently pigeons have really good vision and lab tests were good. No field tests were conducted though.
Pigeons were tried in a pilot program in the coast guard for search and rescue. 3 of them were put in a clear plastic pan below the helicopter and would hit a button when they saw day-glow orange. There were no rescue operations during the program, but tests found the victim twice as often than a human only crew. Unfortunately funds were diverted to Reagans 'war on drugs' and the pigeons were dropped. Sigh, more casualties of the drug war.
Pigeons were tried in a pilot program in the coast guard for search and rescue. 3 of them were put in a clear plastic pan below the helicopter and would hit a button when they saw day-glow orange. There were no rescue operations during the program, but tests found the victim twice as often than a human only crew. Unfortunately funds were diverted to Reagans 'war on drugs' and the pigeons were dropped. Sigh, more casualties of the drug war.
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