Magellanic penguin's onland trajectory data

Understanding how animals move in dense environments where vision is
compromised is a major challenge. We used GPS and dead-reckoning to
examine the movement of Magellanic penguins commuting through vegetation
that precluded long-distance vision. Birds leaving the nest followed the
shortest, quickest route to the sea (the ‘ideal path’ [I-path]) but return
tracks depended where the birds left the water. Penguins arriving at the
beach departure spot mirrored the departure. Most of those landing at a
distance from the departure spot travelled slowly, obliquely to the coast
at a more acute angle than a beeline trajectory to the nest. On crossing
their I-path, these birds then followed this route quickly to their nests.
This movement strategy saves birds distance, time and energy compared to a
route along the beach and the into the colony on the I-track and saves
time and energy compared to a beeline trajectory which necessitates slow
travel in unfamiliar areas. This suggests that some animals adopt tactics
that take them to an area where their navigational capacities are enhanced
for efficient travel in challenging environments.