Why do geese fly in a V? Because it would be too hard to fly in
an S! Just kidding. Scientists have determined that the V-shaped
formation that geese use when migrating serves two important purposes:
First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above
the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance.
The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they
get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before
they must stop for rest.
The second benefit to the V formation is that it is easy to keep
track of every bird in the group. Fighter pilots often use this
formation for the same reason.
Related
Web Sites |
- Breeds
of Geese. This website from Oklahoma State Department
of Animal Science contains pictures, descriptions, and
breeds of geese.
- GooseRef.
This site is an "online bibliographic search system,
devoted entirely to the primary scientific literature
concerning
geese. Currently consisting of ca. 2700 references (mostly
papers and thesis titles)..."
- Migration
Basics. The National Park Service provides the basics
of animal migration along with a list of references in this
website.
- North
American Migration Flyaway. The Nutty Bird Watcher website
provides information about the different kinds of North
American migration patterns along with maps.
- Saving
Fuel Cost with Formation Flying. This article from NASA
Aerospace Technology News discusses the Autonomous Formation
Flight (AFF) project. The goals of the AFF project is to
apply the benefits of V formation flight in reducing emissions
and cost of air travel.
- AFF:
Autonomous Flight Formation is surpassing project's goals.
This article from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
in Edwards California discusses the findings of the Autonomous
Flight Formation Project.
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Further
Reading |
- Burton,
Robert. Birdflight: An illustrated study of birds' aerial
mastery. New York, Facts on File, c1990. 160 p.
- Furtman,
Michael. On the wings of a north wind: the waterfowl
and wetlands of America's inland flyways. Harrisburg,
PA, Stackpole books, c1991. 161 p.
- Hainsworth,
F. Reed. Wing movement and positioning for aerodynamic benefit
by Canada geese flying formation. Canadian journal of
zoology, v. 67, March 1989, p. 585-589.
- Lissaman,
P.B.S., and C.A. Schollenberger. Formation flight
of birds.
Science, 168, May 22, 1970, p. 1003-1005.
- Kalman,
Bobbie. How birds fly. New York, Crabtree, c1998.
32 p. (Juvenile)
- Todd,
Frank S. Waterfowl: Ducks, geese, and swans. San
Diego, Sea World Press, c1979. 399 p.
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For
more print resources...
Search on "geese,"
or "geese flying"
in the Library of Congress Online
Catalog. |
Image from Wildlife
on the Refuge, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
[Geese
flying in formation] / drawing by Charles Livingston Bull [published
between 1890 and 1932] Prints
& Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
Snow
Geese in flight / Menke, Dave, n.d., U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service National Image Library
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