Why Do Birds Fly in V-Formations?

FAQ in Science #1

In sweltering Greater Los Angeles, it’s that wonderful time of year again. For the first time in months, it’s actually enjoyable to be outside! The new season’s cool winds bluster from the northeast, forcing out the hundred-degree-plus weather that kept us all cowering under shade. And, in my neck of the woods, a familiar honk rings in the fresh autumn breeze.

Canadian Geese. In gaggles, they fly over the San Fernando Valley to their winter retreats. Through closed windows, over the hum of a rumbling AC, sounds the honk-a-lonk of hundreds of flying Canadian tourists.

As a kid, I adored watching them fly by. Their strange V flying pattern was unmistakable and surprisingly impeccable! I often wondered why they chose to do something that seemed like so much additional effort. “Why would these birds fly in a V? Why not just fly in a chaotic swarm like the other flocks I’ve seen?”

After many years of study and a newfound hobby in birding, I finally found the answer.

Why do some birds travel in v formations? Because they’ve learned a trick or two by being frequent flyers.

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