Lessons From The Geese
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Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in a V formation, you might consider that science has discovered why they fly that way:
- As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation, the whole flock creates at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going faster and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
- When 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 from the bird in front. If we had as much sense as a goose we would stay in formation with those who are headed in the same direction that we are.
- When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs whether it's with people or with geese flying south.
- Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. If we behaved as sensibly as geese, we'd make sure our honking was encouraging and helpful.
- Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshots, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.
If we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other like that.
