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The Sense of Goose

by Dr. Harry Clarke Noyes 
ARCS NEWS, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 1992 


Next 
fall, when 
you see Geese 
heading South for 
the Winter, flying along 
in V formation, you might 
consider what science has dis‐ 
covered 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 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 
with people or with geese flying South. 

Geese 
honk frombehind 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. 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. 


(from materials provided by Bonnie J. Collins, EdM, LCSW‐R) 

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