The star compass of birds, as well as the sun compass, is not innate. To possess either of them, the birds have to observe the rotating sky and determine its' center of rotation (in the star compass case) or the sun's movement (in the sun compass). Young birds are believed to learn how to use the star compass before their first migration, even though the evidence of this is lacking. Here, we test whether hand-raised Pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) which had not established the star compass prior to their first autumn migration can gain it later in their ontogeny, in spring. We also attempted to examine if the observation of diurnal celestial cues (the sun and the polarized light) prior to autumn migration would affect the process of the star compass learning in spring. When tested in the vertical magnetic field under the natural starry sky, the group of birds which observed the stars in spring as the first celestial cues could choose the migratory direction. In contrast, the birds, which had never seen the stars, were not able to use the nightly celestial cues in the vertical magnetic field. However, the group of birds which had seen the daytime celestial cues till autumn and the stars at spring was disoriented, although this might be due to the small sample size. Our data suggest the possibility that the star compass may be learned in spring and emphasize the necessity for the further research in the interaction of celestial compasses.

Previously it has been shown that migratory birds were oriented in the appropriate migratory direction under UV, blue and green monochromatic lights (short-wavelength) and were unable to use their magnetic compass in total darkness and under yellow and red lights (long-wavelength). Currently, it is generally assumed that the magnetic compass of birds works correctly only under short-wavelength light. However, at the same time, there is an assumption that the magnetic compass has two sensitivity peaks: in the short and long wavelengths but with different intensities. In this project, we aimed to study the orientation of long-distance migrants, pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), in different monochromatic lights during autumn migration. The birds were tested in the natural magnetic field (NMF) and 120° CCW shifted magnetic field (CMF) under green and yellow light (intensity 1 mW m-2). All tests were performed in a specially constructed wooden laboratory equipped with magnetic coils to manipulate the magnetic field. We showed (1) pied flycatchers were completely disoriented under green light both in the NMF and CMF and (2) for the first time they showed the migratory direction in NMF and appropriate response to CMF under yellow light. Our data suggest that the avian magnetic compass might be based on two different mechanisms: a high-sensitive short-wavelength mechanism and a low-sensitive mechanism in the long-wavelength spectrum.

This article is devoted to the application of an integrated approach in the study of the quality of life of the population of the North Ossetia. Aspects of the specifity of objective and subjective approaches are substantiated. The increasing importance of the concept of “quality of life” in the XXI century is indicated. A review of sociological studies of the level and quality of life in Russia, as well as a range of monographic works on the analyzed issues. The results of empirical sociological studies in 2014 and 2018 (a study of the quality and standard of living of the population of North Ossetia and a study of the social wellbeing of the population of North Ossetia using the methodology developed by Lapin N. I. and Belyaeva L. A.) are presented.