THE POWER OF THE FLOCK
Having just read an article in my Jan./Feb. 2005 Saturday Evening Post, I hope
you are interested in our Canadian Geese that settle on our lake here in the
LVH park at various times during the year. They are so graceful and other
than the "calling cards" they leave on the pathway and lawn, I love watching
them when they visit. The following is only the factual information from this
article by Reverend Ervin G. Roorda. I hope I'm not breaking any copyright
rules in sending this on.
Fact One: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the birds that
follow. And by flying in a V formation. the whole flock adds 71 percent greater
flying range and is able to fly 75 percent faster than if each bird flew alone.
Fact Two: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag
and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the other birds immediately in front of it.
Fact Three: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation
and another goose flies into the point position.
Fact Four: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front
to keep up their speed.
Fact Five: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot, two other geese always
drop out of formation and follow it down to help or protect it. They stay with it
either until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another
formation and catch up with the flock.
Hummmm, I wonder whoever figured this all out. The complete article is very
interesting, and you can locate the magazine in the clubhouse just as soon as
I finish with it!
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