Goose Story

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Goose Story

Next fall, when you see

geese heading South for the winter, flying along in a V formation, you might

consider what science has discovered as to 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 adds at least 71% 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 more quickly and

easily 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 of

the bird in front. If we have as

much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed in

the same way we are. When the head

goose gets tired it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies the point. It is sensible to take turns doing

demanding jobs with other people or with geese flying South.

 

Geese honk from behind to

encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What do we say when we honk from behind?

 

Finally - and this is

important - 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 until it dies, and only then

do they launch out on their own, or with another formation, to catch up with

their group.

 

If we have the sense of a goose we will

stand by each other like that.

 

Author Unknown