daveh
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Post by daveh on Sept 11, 2011 14:12:30 GMT -5
Over the last few weeks we have had several skeins of Canada Geese flying over. At least some of them are Canada Geese. One has just gone over the house now. It's pretty dark out there so even if I had my camera to hand I wouldn't have got a decent any photograph of them.
I expect each skein will be joining up with others for (more than one) mass migration between now and November. For a bird that can at times be quite stupid its powers of flight and navigation are remarkable. I wonder where they will end up.
I must get a photo of that wonderful 'V' formation.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Sept 11, 2011 15:06:12 GMT -5
"I wonder where they will end up."
Hopefully in somebody's oven.
Their honking "V" formations are indeed very impressive, at least to us Canadians, but the rest of their behaviour is appalling at the least.
I think there may be a move afoot in Ottawa to revoke their citizenship.
Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Sept 11, 2011 15:26:58 GMT -5
They have certainly multiplied apace in recent years. Presumably there are less predators bumping them off: guns aren't as common these days.
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Post by nikonbob on Sept 11, 2011 15:45:40 GMT -5
They have certainly multiplied apace in recent years. Presumably there are less predators bumping them off: guns aren't as common these days. That, I think, is part of the problem. I know I haven't bothered with firearms since we had to register long guns and in so doing have not contributed to controlling any wildlife populations. Learned something new also. I always referred to geese in flight as a flock or gaggle. I know better now. We have seen some small Vs but I expect the larger ones will start more to the end of the month. As for "For a bird that can at times be quite stupid its powers of flight and navigation are remarkable." What would you expect from a bunch of bloody colonials? I would insert a smiley here if I knew how, see what I mean. Bob |
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Sept 11, 2011 15:56:00 GMT -5
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Sept 11, 2011 16:06:22 GMT -5
It's a funny word, skein. Apparently it comes from a Middle-English word.
I 've also looked the V formation up and it reckons (on wikipaedia) that a V of 25 birds reduces drag by up to 65% and increases their range by 71%.
And, of course, these stupid birds got in ahead of those clever human cyclists in realising that changing their position in the formation evened out the work load for each of them. The older, wiser birds tending to be nearer the front because they know where they are going: something that humans don't manage that too well.
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Post by nikonbob on Sept 11, 2011 21:29:22 GMT -5
Yea, I'll bet the V formation works a lot like "drafting" in close behind a transport truck on the road or in stock car racing.
Bob
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Sept 12, 2011 6:17:36 GMT -5
Strangely, clue 14 down in the Herculis general knowledge crossword (Daily Telegraph) today is: Flock of wild geese or swans flying in a V-shaped formation.
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