Birds:
* Visual landmarks: Birds often use landmarks like mountains, rivers, or even familiar buildings to navigate. They can learn these landmarks and use them to guide their flight.
* The sun: Birds have an internal clock that tells them the time of day, and they can use the position of the sun in the sky to orient themselves.
* The Earth's magnetic field: Birds can sense the Earth's magnetic field, which they use to navigate long distances, even in cloudy weather.
* Star navigation: Some birds, like migratory songbirds, use the stars to navigate at night.
* Smell: Some birds, like seabirds, can use their sense of smell to find their way back to their nesting colonies.
Ants:
* Pheromone trails: Ants leave a chemical trail, called a pheromone trail, as they travel. Other ants can then follow this trail back to the nest.
* Visual cues: Some ants can recognize landmarks, like familiar objects or patterns, to guide their way home.
* Sun and sky: Ants can use the position of the sun and the pattern of polarized light in the sky to navigate.
* Step counting: Some ants can count their steps to keep track of their distance from the nest.
* Polarized light: Ants can use polarized light to navigate, especially in cloudy conditions.
It's important to note that these are just some of the ways birds and ants find their way home. Each species has its own unique navigational skills and uses a combination of these methods to ensure a safe journey back to their nest.