The Story of the Geese


In the fall, when you see the geese heading south for the winter flying along in a "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way.

It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. Thus, by flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range that if each bird flew on is own. (People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.)

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. (If we have as much sense as a goose, we would stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going.)

When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. (It pays to take turns doing hard jobs.)

The geese at the back of the formation constantly honk to encourage those up front to maintain their speed. (What do most of us often way when we honk from behind!)

Finally and most important of all, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshots and drops from the sky, two other geese immediately fall out of formation and follow him down to try to help or protect him. Moreover, they stay with him until he is either able to fly again or until he is dead, and then they lauch out on their own again, or with another formation to catch up with their group. (Perhaps if we have the sense of the goose, we will stand by each other like that.).

-Author Unknown