National Adult Literacy Database

September 7, 1998

The story we have this week comes to us from Saint John, New Brunswick. The author, Rebecca Tanasichuk, likes to read, play cards or play Nintendo in her spare time. She also enjoys making crafts, and she does volunteer work at the Women's Centre.

Geese

by Rebecca Tanasichuk

This fall or next when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying alone in a V formation think about what science has learned about why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings it creats uplift for the bird immediately following it.

By flying in a V formation the whole flock can fly at least 71% further than if each bird flew on it's own. Perhaps people who share a common direction can get where they are going quicker and easier if they co-operate.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation it feels the resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of flying with the flock.. If we have as much sense as a goose we will work with others who are going the same way as we are. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies on the point. It pays to take turns doing hard jobs for our group. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up the speed.

Finally (Get this) when a goose weakens or is wounded and falls out of formation two geese fall out and follow him down to help protect him, they stay with him until he is able to fly on or until he is dead, and they set out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with the group. If we had the sense of a goose we would stand by each other like that.

[This story was taken with permission, from the The Learning Times, published by the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick, March 1996.]