SOME THINGS BIRDS PERCEIVE. Jonathan Rosen reviewed two books in the Wall Street Journal (June 29) which have intriguing titles: BIRD SENSE: WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A BIRD by Tim Birkhead and WHAT THE ROBIN KNOWS by Jon Young. I learned that robins are able to hear earthworms moving underground and that kiwis are able to smell earthworms. Birds have taste buds. Some birds can perceive the magnetic forces that they use as guides on long migratory journeys.
I marvel sometimes that not only are those of us who are not color blind able to distinguish the different wave lengths of the colors, but that the differences in the wave lengths gives us such pleasure. I wonder if birds experience pleasure when they detect the magnetic forces of the earth.