It is always amazing to watch birds in flight because they often behave as if they respond to unseen commands when they turn in unison. Pigeons have been recently studied by Oxford University and Eötvös University (Hungary) to see who is command in a given flock. Pigeon flocks (they concluded) are guided by a flexible system of leadership in which almost every member gets a vote but the votes of high ranking birds seem to carry more weight.

Read more:
Pigeon Commander

More on SKCEA.org:

• Are Senate Dems going to go for it on climate?
  by David Roberts. On Thursday, the Senate Democratic caucus held a meeting and everyone emerged giddy as schoolchildren . Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) called it "one of the most motivating, energized, and even inspirational caucuses that I've been a part of." Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-...
• U.S. lowers expectations for climate treaty this year
  by Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON -- The United States on Monday downplayed hopes of clinching a new climate treaty this year, warning against unrealistic expectations despite what it said was growing agreement among major nations. The United States convened representatives of t...
• BP gears up to win over Washington and the rest of us
  by Randy Rieland. A little less than a month ago, back before he was madly tripping over his tongue , BP CEO Tony Hayward was sounding almost inspirational as he channeled Winston Churchill : "We are determined to fight this spill on all fronts, in the deep water of the Gulf, in...
• Chinese ship gouged two-mile scar in Great Barrier Reef
  by Agence France-Presse Photo courtesy Yuriy via FlickrSYDNEY - A Chinese ship that spent nine days stranded on the Great Barrier Reef gouged a two-mile scar in the coral that could take decades to recover, a top expert said on Tuesday. David Wachenfeld, chief scientist at the bo...
• ‘Hands Across the Sand’ could be largest Gulf oil demonstration yet
  by Jonathan Hiskes. Saturday could bring the biggest public demonstration yet about the Gulf oil gusher, when Hands Across the Sand gathers people on beaches around the world at noon to hold hands in support of coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, and fishing industries. ...