Geese in a V

H.Waller
Date: 22 October, 2008
Time: 1746
Weather: Very nice, 66 degrees, sunny
Location: Just outside Kaneko, before the sky bridge

As I stepped outside the doors of Kaneko Commons this evening to walk to dinner at Goudy, my senses were delighted in many ways. First, it was unusually warmer than normal at this hour, and the sun was shining down warming my skin and bouncing off of my hair. Second, my nose was filled with the aroma of freshly cut grass. This brought me right back to summer time and put me in high spirits. Then as I was walking toward the bridge, I heard a familiar honking being repeated over and over by several voices. I looked up to see an enormous V shaped formation of geese flying over me talking loudly to each other as they flew in their line ups. There were probably around 40-50 birds in the V, and a few others trailing behind in pairs or threes. Stopping to watch them, I was reminded of crew. The way they were all lined up one behind the other with a "leader" in front, and appearing to all be "stroking" somewhat together made them look just like a rowing team in a different formation. I would like to know if the position of the birds within the formation has any significance within the flock.