Home Who We Are Please Donate

 
Lessons From Geese
by Dr Robert McNeish

1. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following.  By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range that it would have by flying alone.

        Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier traveling on the flex of one another.

2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone. Quickly, it gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.

        Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go and be willing to accept
                     their help as well as give our help to others.

3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

        Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard task and sharing leadership. With people as with geese, we are interdependent of each other.

4. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

        Lesson: We need to make sure that our honking from behind is encouraging and not something else.

5. When a goose is sick or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own with another formation or catch up with the flock.

       Lesson: If we have as much sense as the geese, we, too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

Click for more information about authorship of Lessons From Geese
(Link leaves this website)