Helpful honks
Each fall flocks of migrating
geese stop at a meadow near our home.
For several weeks those birds fly in long, wavy V-formations over our house,
honking as they go. But then, as winter
approaches, they are off again on their long flight south.
A student of mine furthered my
education and my appreciation for these visitors from the north. I learned that geese fly at speeds of 40 to
50 miles per hour. They travel in
formation because as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an updraft for the
bird behind it. They can go 70 percent
farther in a group than they could if they flew alone...
Geese also honk at one
another. They are not critics but
encouragers. Those in the rear sound off
to exhort those up front to stay on course and maintain their speeds. We too move ahead much more easily if there
is someone behind us encouraging us to stay on track and keep going.
Is there someone flying in formation
with you today to whom you might give some "helpful honks?" -- Haddon W. Robinson
MORE GEESE DATA :
1. As each goose flaps its
wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the
whole flock adds 71% greater range than if each bird flew alone.
2. When it goose falls out of
formation, it suddenly feels the drag & resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back in formation to take
advantage of lifting power of the bird in front of it.
3. When the lead goose tires,
it rotates back into formation and another goose takes the point position.
4. The geese flying in
formation honk to encourage those in front to keep up their speed.
5. When a goose gets sick,
wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to
help and protect it. They stay with it
until it dies or is able to fly again.
From "Lessons from Geese," by Angeles Arrien,
based on the research of Milton Olson.
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