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)