For the last week or so I have seen lots of ducks, or maybe they’re geese, flying somewhere in the V formation.
First, I don’t know if they are just now flying south or if they are returning north early. If they are returning early, someone missed the forecast on the Weather Channel. We usually see a lot of birds in formation in November on their way to Florida or Mexico or wherever they winter. I never see them flying in V formation in the spring. Do they fly together in the spring? I’ve looked for the answer to that question but have yet to find an answer.
How many ducks does it take to make a V? Yesterday I saw a rather small V. It consisted of two birds—one leading and the other one flying a bit behind and to the left of the leader.
1 comment:
The answer is 3 ducks make a V formation.
Ducks fly in a V no matter tiime of year. It's all about the aerodynamics.
Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation that geese use when migrating serves two important purposes:
First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest. The authors of a 2001 Nature article stated that pelicans that fly alone beat their wings more frequently and have higher heart rates than those that fly in formation. It follows that birds that fly in formation glide more often and reduce energy expenditure (Weimerskirch, 2001).
The second benefit to the V formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Flying in formation may assist with the communication and coordination within the group. Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason.
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