# Pigeon Guided Bombs and Coin-Operated Chickens: The Remarkable Brelands

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/precision-animal-training-7776184/pigeon-guided-bombs-and-coin-operated-chickens-the-remarkable-brelands.md
Podcast: [Precision Animal Training](https://stenobird.com/podcast/precision-animal-training-7776184)
Published: 2026-04-09T16:11:02+00:00
Episode link: https://precisionanimaltraining.transistor.fm/5
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/9a2da8c9/3e01d627.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/precision-animal-training-7776184/episodes/pigeon-guided-bombs-and-coin-operated-chickens-the-remarkable-brelands
Duration seconds: 1353

## Resource

In this episode of Precision Animal Training, host Kirsten Kraljevic and Dr. Bob Bailey explore more of the life and journey of Marian and Keller Breland, pioneers in animal behavior and training. The episode details Marian’s rise from poverty to a scholarship at the University of Minnesota, her accidental introduction to Keller and the pivotal meeting with B.F. Skinner. Listeners learn about their involvement in the top-secret WWII “Project Orcon,” where pigeons were trained to guide bombs with surprising precision. After the war, the Brelands transitioned from academia to industry, developing scalable methods for training feed salespeople to use animals: chickens, rabbits, and pigs for advertising shows across the U.S. Their innovations led to automated animal acts in roadside attractions, complete with detailed logistics for transporting and caring for the animals. The episode closes by highlighting how the Brelands’ systematic approach laid the foundation for modern animal training and Animal behavior enterprises. 3 Key Takeaways 1. The Remarkable Beginnings of Marion and Keller Breland Listeners learn how Marian and Keller, coming from humble backgrounds, found their way to the University of Minnesota, met by chance, and eventually created a partnership that changed the course of animal training and psychology. Their connection with B.F. Skinner and early academic experiences laid the foundation for their future innovations. 2. Pigeons Guiding Bombs: The Orcon Project An astonishing wartime experiment is revealed: pigeons were trained to guide bombs during WWII using operant conditioning principles. This project, despite technical success and scalability, was ultimately sidelined, but it demonstrated the surprising potential of animal intelligence in military tech…

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## Transcript

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