The Goose Story

The Goose Story

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in a "V” formation, think about what science has learned about why they fly that way. As you would observe, this is not coincidental, but rather instinctive. For even geese that were orphaned and which were raised by humans and subsequently taught to fly, would instinctively assume the “V” formation.

It was discovered that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following immediately behind it. Hence, by flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock can fly at least 71% farther than if each bird flew on its own. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learnt for us who profess a superior intelligence, and for whom the term “bird brain” is meant to be demeaning and insulting. It should suffice to think that people, who share a common direction and purpose in life, can get where they are going much quicker and easier if they simply cooperated.

It was further observed that whenever a goose would fall out of formation, it would immediately feel the resistance of trying to go it alone and would quickly get back into formation to take advantage of the uplift that was created as a result of flying with the flock. We need not look very far to garner a lesson in human cooperation here, for If as we think, we have as much sense as a goose, wouldn’t it be a given that if we would only work with each other who are going the same way as we are, we could achieve so much more with considerably less effort.

Another aspect of this pattern that seems more intuitive than instinctive can be seen in the fact that when the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back into one of the wings and another goose almost as if on cue, flies on ahead to assume the lead at the point. I think most of us would probably have waited for a command of some kind before proceeding to the fore.

If there is any lesson to be learnt here, it is that it pays to take turns doing hard jobs and pulling your own weight for the good of our group. Then there is always the cheerleading emanating from the back, for the geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Finally, (and get this!), when a goose has weakened or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese would automatically fall out of formation and follow him down to the ground to help and protect him. They would selflessly stay with him until he is either able to fly again or until the unfortunate should happen and he should succumb to his injuries and should die. Then, and only then would they set out on their own, or perchance with another formation, with whom they would stay until they can be reunited with their original group.

If only we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other like that.