In formation
Published October 2, 2012 / by Steve Berentson
There’s a method to the madness of the “V” formation, or so I’ve been told. Lead bird switches out from time to time, and I think there’s a “drafting” element, too. Update: Bruce Batt, chief biologist for the conservation group Ducks Unlimited, says the linear flight formations of migratory birds are called echelons. There are two well-supported and complementary explanations for why birds fly in formation. One is to conserve energy by taking advantage of the upwash vortex fields created by the wings of the birds in front. The other is to facilitate orientation and communication among the birds.
About Steve Berentson
A fourth generation Skagit County native who was moved kicking and screaming from this island community in 1960. I finally reclaimed an Anacortes address in 1980, and I have been in constant celebration of my return since that time. Many of us who call Anacortes home love Fidalgo Island for its natural assets: among them are rugged beaches, pristine lakes, thousands of acres of forestland and some awesome views of the Skagit Valley and surrounding islands. Another element of my love affair with this community is its people, both natives and immigrants. They will “star” in many of my journal entries.
