Health and Animal-Human Bonding

Lessons from Geese

Lessons Learned from Geese
When you look to the sky this fall and see the geese migrating South, remember the following:

When you see geese flying in a "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what scientists have discovered about why they fly that way.

1. animal relevance: 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 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

human relevance: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the trust of one another.

2. animal relevance: Whenever 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 immediately in front.

human relevance: There is strength and power and safety in numbers when traveling in the same direction with whom we share a common goal.

3. animal relevance: When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

human relevance: It pays to take turns doing hard jobs.

4. animal relevance: The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

human relevance: We all need to be remembered with active support and praise.

5. animal relevance: When a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until the crisis resolves, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.

human relevance: We must stand by each other in times of need.