Birds of a Feather

"You can observe a lot by just watching." One of Yogi Berra's famous quips.

With the weather being unseasonably nice last week and being home before it gets dark (thanks to remote schooling again), I was able to continue my evening walks that I started last summer to help lift my spirits through this pandemic. On a few of those walks, there were hundreds - if not thousands - of geese in and around the pond that I frequent.

I see geese all the time but I've never really watched their behavior very closely until this week. They caught my attention when a few of them dropped from the sky to land in the pond right in front of me. I was fascinated with how skilled they were at maneuvering through the air. Their wings curved toward the ground to slow themselves down and their webbed feet popped out right as they touched down on the water. They reminded me of 747s at the airport with their flaps down as the landing gear extends and the plane gently rolls across the runway. I used to listen to the air traffic at the airport on my dad's scanner and I learned about how the runways have different numbers depending on which way the planes approach. That depends on the direction of the wind. As the next group of geese came in for a landing, I noticed that they, too, circled around the pond before they all landed in the same direction - using the wind to ensure a smooth and steady approach. I suppose they learned that trick long before the Wright brothers.

To think that we as humans are able to fly - albeit with the help of aluminum and some jet fuel - because somebody took time to observe the birds. How many other things might we discover if we were to stop and look? I think of our current situation with the coronavirus pandemic. Because people have taken the time to observe and understand how our immune system works and learned to replicate it in a lab, we will likely have a vaccine in the near future that will allow us to return to normal and save many lives. 

Last week, I attended an online class through Audubon about Aldo Leopold. He was known for his love of nature and his most famous book is mostly a collection of his observations. I decided to follow his example and watch the geese for a while longer. As I did, my head filled with questions. I noticed as dozens more geese flew overhead that only a few of them dropped out and landed in the pond. Why did those individuals join the group in the water while the rest continued on? Were they planning to catch up with the other group later or was that they last time they would ever fly with those particular geese? Were all of the geese in the area part of a larger group that would eventually reconvene and move on to the next stop or do they move from group to group as they please? As the new geese landed in the pond, none of the others protested. They continued on in search for food or perhaps just resting their wings for the next long flight. When another group few overhead, the honks would get louder and I wondered what they were communicating.

It's difficult to not put our human thoughts and emotions on animals. I suppose the geese's primary concern is survival, especially in November when food is scarce and the weather can turn at any moment. But, I couldn't help wondering if we could learn something from their interactions. The geese accepted newcomers each time they arrived and they didn't exclude the geese who looked different
(contrary to the story of the ugly duckling). Yesterday, there was one goose that stuck out like a sore thumb. Its feathers were mostly white, probably a result of leucism (a genetic mutation that causes a lack of pigmentation), but it swam around with the others like it was no big deal. When the geese fly, they take turns leading their V formation so that the others can fly in their draft, conserve energy, and communicate. Their instincts and their natural behaviors help each other to survive and to thrive.

At one point, hundreds of geese in the field nearby took off simultaneously and started flying in the same direction. There was a symphony of honking as they circled around and flew toward the mountains. What made them decide to go at that moment? How did they all know? Was there a leader, or group of leaders, who made the decision? Where were they going next?

This year has forced me to slow down. It's helped me to notice more and to ask more questions. That's the best way to learn.

I encourage you slow down this week and look more closely at the world around you. It has a lot to teach us.