How are spy birds equipped?

For a long time pigeons have been trained by humans to deliver letters and even make harmful 'intelligence agents'. Currently these birds are often attached to extremely sophisticated.

Intelligence pigeons are mounted cameras during World War II.(Photo: Wired.com).

In ancient times, was the fastest way to transmit information. Historical records show that, from the 6th century BC, Persian King Cyrus used pigeons to send information and the Greeks also used pigeons to spread information. won the Olympics.

During the 8th century in France, guide pigeons were also considered a symbol of power. By the time the French-Prussian war took place in the 19th century, at the same time the development of microphotography and microfilm technology allowed each pigeon to carry mail carrying thousands of telegrams. In 1903, pigeons attached to photographic equipment were used for German military intelligence. By World War I, most European troops used pigeons to fight communications.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq still used pigeons to transmit information when radio equipment was jammed. The Swiss army also extended the army of pigeons at least until 1994. In the US military alone, in 1957, stopped using the dove army. But in 1970, the US coast guard force continued the pigeon training project to find information. However, the United States once again had to stop this program in 1983 due to budgetary reasons.

Up to now, as scientific and technological advances continue to increase, devices for communication and collection and transmission of information are constantly being improved, many people believe that the role of pigeons in the field of 'intelligence' has really been overshadowed. But the story in 2008 overturned such thinking, when Iran discovered and compacted the 'spy pigeon' near one of its nuclear facilities.

The bird identification feature captured in Iran was then revealed with legs wearing blue metal rings at the feet and attached to nearly invisible strings. Experts at the time said that this could be a way for the bird to collect and transmit information. Some sources revealed that this is Iranian native bird Highflying Tumblers trained with stamina and good aerobatic abilities.

Although the Iranian side did not reveal more details about the dove, according to experts, intelligence doves can now be equipped with navigation technology such as GPS. Researchers are constantly studying to turn pigeons into powerful weapons. Because even modern devices develop, pigeons are still needed in intelligence because they have the same advantages as being secretive and free from interference.

Even the scientific community seeks to integrate the optimization of electronic devices into pigeons. For example, in 2007, Chinese scientists claimed they had successfully tested electronic pigeon flight control. Thanks to the implanting of sophisticated electronic devices into different areas of the pigeon's brain, Chinese scientists can control the bird's flight in the right, left or up or down directions through the computer. .