Next autumn, when you see geese
heading south for the winter, flying 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 uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V”
formation, the whole flock adds 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 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 the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation
with those people who are heading the same way we are. When the head goose gets
tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is
sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese
flying south. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up
their speed.
What message do we give when we
honk from behind? Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or
is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the 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 own
group.
If we
have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.
