Geese

[margaret124]

Can anyone advise me on what you call the V shape of flying group of geese while emigrating - is there a name for this ?

[tamd88]

yes, it is called a "wind up formation"

[commoner]

...mmm...I've always know a flight of geese as a SKEIN ....this is also given in various dictionaries as one meaning of the word...commoner.

 Echelon is also a word that would fit this formation.

[Cetti]

The actual V shape has no name but the collective noun for geese in flight is a 'skein'. On the ground it's a 'gaggle'. I found the info below on a site describing why they fly in this formation particularly on migration.

"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 second benefit to the V formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason".

[Clanad]

You do know of course, why one arm of the "V" of geese, or ducks for that matter, is always longer than the other?

[commoner]

..LOL...Clanad....no I don't know, but somehow I feel you are going to tell us....commoner <G>

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[Clanad]

I thought you'd never ask... there's more geese in the long arm than the short...