Lessons from Geese

This holiday season, Smile Sarasota is grateful for the gift of work colleagues, friends and family that makes a difference in the world within such a rich network of people. As strange as it may sound, let’s compare this with geese! Think about a family of geese, and their strategies to ensure the survival and ultimate success of their entire flock. This is akin to friends, colleagues, and loved ones who circle back around, taking the lead when we tire, encouraging us forward, never once considering leaving us behind… knowing there will come a day when I will take my turn in the lead.

Nature ultimately makes no mistakes so enjoy the inherent lessons for all of us embedded in Mother Nature’s classroom. If you Google this phenomenon with geese you will find the following facts.  Perhaps you have seen this before, and if so, it’s worth the revisit.

Fact One:  As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the other birds to follow.  By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Fact Two:  When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.  It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Fact Three:  When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the front position.

Fact Four: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Fact Five:  When a goose is sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it.  They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again.  They then launch out to catch up with the flock or rejoin another formation.