Geese Flight Pattern

The pink footed geese have featured before in this blog (Click Here) and as they are part and parcel of the daily life of the Holkham Walled Garden in the winter they are worth another look. They usually form a  V shape or 'skein' as they travel over the garden between their roosts out on the marsh and their feeding grounds of sugar beet tops over in the fields. The skein photographed here contains over fifty geese that were travelling for their breakfast in the early morning. The superimposed goose shows why they are called Pinkfoot Geese. 


They fly in a V shape principally to conserve energy, studies have shown they can save up to 70% on the uplift of the goose in front. Spare a thought then for the frontrunner  (and the two far outriders) who work harder and drop back on a long flight to change places. For a little more detail on the aerodynamics of the flight  pattern (Click Here)