Abstract #1555

Pardoe H, Pell G, Jackson G

Homing pigeons are able to navigate using the Earths magnetic field. This magnetic sensing ability is linked to the presence of trace quantities of naturally occurring iron-based magnetic particles in the tissue of the bird. This study investigated the use of MRI to obtain high resolution in vitro images of a pigeon head and located regions of discrete hypointensity areas along the upper beak tissue that may correspond to these iron-based magnetic particle deposits.