1. Why Do Geese Fly in a V- Formation?

& What they can teach you about teamwork.

tuhn Disclaimer: I want to take a moment to note that I am not a historian, researcher, or expert on this topic. I do my utmost to ensure sources are credible, accurate, and up-to-date. You can find all citations in the footnote of this publication. Mistakes happen, they are OK as long as we learn from them and correct ourselves. This is how we grow. Thank you for supporting my curious spirit, I am glad you’re here.

Our very first publication is dedicated to my best friend Nav. Thank you for always being my number one supporter. I love you.

I first breached the idea of this publication to my girlfriend over dinner and drinks. Initially, I wasn’t quite sure how this project would be received, being the queen of random ideas I was expecting a few polite words of support followed by a swift topic change. Instead, our quintessential “girl’s night” turned into a night at the bar adding to my “Thing’s I want to Learn List”. There are two distinct facts that stood out from this conversation. The first is that it is fascinating to watch a person contemplate and hypothesize a topic they know little about and secondly, my friend is much more interested in animal behaviour than I ever knew. Hopefully, by the end of this publication, my dearest friend can cross this question off her list.

Prior to beginning my research on the topic, I asked myself why I think Geese and other birds fly in a V-formation. Immediately my thoughts went to “The Flying V” in the 90’s film The Mighty Ducks. Certainly, the answer must lie in Gordon Bombay’s expert coaching and hockey knowledge and has to do with the strongest protecting the weak and striking when it’s least expected? Right? I was only partially correct. Although the strongest leads the flock, the main reason they do so is that this position expends the most amount of energy. You see, when geese fly in a V-formation, the lead goose flaps his wings in a way that creates uplift for the bird flying directly behind and to the right of him, therefore, reducing the amount of energy the bird behind needs to expend to keep up. This effect is passed down (and to the right) to subsequent geese hence the distinct V shape. The lead goose does most of the work while the geese behind him ride the wave of that hard work (if that ain’t real life…). Don’t worry, when the lead goose gets tired, he will move to the back of the formation and another will take his place.

At this point, I’m sure you are dying to know: how does this uplift work? National Geographic had this great diagram that helped me understand it better: ¹

I’ll break it down for you in case the diagram did not help. As the lead bird flaps its wings, the air at the tip of its wing, which flows faster from above than the air below it, spins off creating a rotating vortex of air called upwash. This upwash (also referred to as uplift) usually occurs from the top of the wing and down and to the right. The second goose then flies directly into the upwash of the first and benefits from an increase in lift without expending as much energy. It is estimated that this flying formation adds approximately 71% more flying range to the entire flock (assuming a flock of 25 birds). ² In a study done on Ibises, researchers found no evidence that geese and other large birds that follow this formation are born with this skill. It is inferred that it was a self-taught technique. ³ BIRDS MAN! They are so cool. Another experiment was done by researcher Henri Weimerskirch where he fit heart rate monitors on Pelicans, and it was confirmed that the birds at the back of the flock had slower heart rates and flapped their wings less often.⁴ If you are wondering whether this technique is used by all birds, the answer is no. The V-formation is primarily seen in larger birds with larger wingspans. Smaller birds typically create more complex wind currents and it is, therefore, less common amongst them.

Aside from the efficiency of why geese fly in a V-formation, which now makes perfect sense, I was surprised at the amount of insight I gained from my research on teamwork. If these incredible animals can teach you anything about teamwork let it be the following:

1. A strong leader can take you far, but equally as important is a leader who knows when to give up control and let another lead when it is needed.

If the lead goose did not move to the back of the formation and let another lead, he would have inevitably slowed down the entire flock. Geese know when to give up control and let someone else lead. This temporary relinquishment of control is what’s best for the collective and promotes rest and recovery. At some point, the time for that goose to lead will arise again and when it does, he will be in a better position to step into it successfully. Good leaders also know how to be good followers.

2. Geese fly further when they fly together

It is estimated that when flying in this formation, geese can fly up to 16 hours straight.⁵ The V formation further enhances the birds’ ability to communicate and see each other to avoid collisions. Can you imagine how far an individual goose would get on its own? Not very far I imagine.

3. Geese support each other when the going gets tough

The CED noted that when a goose gets sick or injured and falls out of formation, it is common for two other geese to fall back with him until he is healed and ready to fly or until he passes away. They will usually catch up with their original flock or join another either way these animals are loyal.

There you have it, if you made it to the end of this publication, congratulations you just learned your first random fact! Wasn’t that fun! I am happy I could have been part of it. I hope you will venture forth with a new appreciation for these creatures and I want to encourage you to pass along the new knowledge you have gained. If you found this topic especially compelling, I further encourage you to do your own additional research.

As always, thank you for being here with me and making space for my writing. I would love to hear your thoughts. Until the next one my friends.

- P

1. “Birds That Fly in a V Formation Use an Amazing Trick,” National Geographic, last modified January 15, 2014, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/birds-that-fly-in-a-v-formation-use-an-amazing-trick

2. “The Story of the Goose,” The Candian CED Network, https://ccednet-rcdec.ca/en/about/logo#:~:text=When%20geese%20fly%20in%20formation,bird%20flew%20on%20its%20own

3. "Why do geese fly in a V?," Science World, last modified October 17, 2011, https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/why-do-geese-fly-v/

4. “Birds That Fly in a V Formation Use an Amazing Trick,” National Geographic, last modified January 15, 2014, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/birds-that-fly-in-a-v-formation-use-an-amazing-trick

5. "Why do geese fly in a V?," Science World, last modified October 17, 2011, https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/why-do-geese-fly-v/