I have to check out that show now. From my research, the experiment showed promise but was abandoned because it was too bizarre.
Apparently, the same concept was later used to spot life rafts from coastguard search & rescue helicopters.
"In testing on the helicopter, the pigeons spotted targets on the first pass 90% of the time. The human crewmembers were capable of finding the target on the first pass only 38% of the time. In passes where both humans and the pigeons spotted the target, the pigeon spotted it first 84% of the time."
Thats absolutely amazing!! I'm blown away that they can be trained so well to not only identify a specific object but also to communicate it to people.
Search and rescue sounds like a much more reasonable application for their super senses. Plus, helicopter rides definitely seem more fun than missile rides.