Next autumn when you see geese heading south for winter, flying along in "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered about why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% more 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 travelling on the thrust of one another. When a goose falls out of formation it suddenly finds the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone.... and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those that are headed the same way. When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing commanding jobs, whether a human or a goose flying south.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those in 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 gunshot and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with it 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. 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.
