Photos Taken by Pigeons.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 7 May 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

Photos Taken by Pigeons.

Pigeons are used by the warring nations of Europe in much the same fashion as the aeroplane for spying out positions of lines of defence *and the location of fortifications. They have long been used to deliver messages from one fort to another by means of microscopic films upon which the writing is so small that each message occupies a space about one inch square. The films are light in weight and so thin that several hundred can be rolled and placed within, a quill which is fastened to the bird’s win.tr.

The pigeon has been used to photograph a “ bird’s-eye view” of the country while in flight hy means of a camera strapped to its body. There are two types of cameras used for this work* single and double lens. The double or two-lens type is constructed with the focal axis of each lens alxmt 90deg. apart to ensure a picture being taken by one of the lenses, should the bird De soaring in circles with its wings planed at an angle to the horizontal. The camera weighs only a few ounces, and, of course, the pictures are very small, hut when enlarged- upon a screen disclose in excellent detail the countrv below.

U aluahle_ results could be obtained by using the bird as an adjunct to the aeroplane or army dirigible, by releasing them from the flying machine at various points on a circle drawn about theenemy’s position. The bird, in making its flight across this area, would obtain views of the earth’s surface from practically every angle. The automatic operating mechanism is so arranged that pictures can be taken at almost definitely known positions. When releasing the pigeon the aviator, knowing the speed of the bird’s flight and his approximate petition, sets the mechanism to begin making exposures after a certain number of seconds have elapsed; the operation then continues at regular intervals until the twenty-five films in the camera have been exposed. With a flock of ten birds, several hundred photographs can be obtained in a few hours.