Smartie's Bar & Grill #74

Because it doesn't make any difference.
The aerodynamic advantage comes from the bird in front only. Since there is no advantage to flying in even shaped Vs then there is no process which will make them even.
Natural selection occurs when it is advantageous to the species to change. Natural variation occurs when there is a lack of natural selection.

 

I didn’t realize you had permanent resident sandhill cranes. That’s interesting. Down on the Platte River (south of me) the crane tourism industry is a big deal now days. We get cranes on the ground here maybe every two years or so. Usually they are hundreds of feet up and on the move.

Interesting story on the dogs as well. I know some trainers that “start” BC’s on herding ducks.

 

Yep. Birds were drafting before NASCAR made it “cool”.

 

It turns out each bird is actually benefiting from the one in front of it. This is a pretty good piece on it. Every cycle of the wings is timed to take advantage of pressure gradients left by the bird ahead.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/...src=ngp::int_cmp=amp::int_add=amp_readtherest

Now, as far as why one side of a V is usually longer, I was always told it was because there were more geese on that side. LOL. Your explanation is more concise.

 

Yeah, it's not quite as simple as reduced air resistance. If that's all it was you might expect to see them in straight lines like cyclists or NASCAR drivers. They are actually getting lift from vortexes of air created by the bird in front. Saving between 20-30% in energy.

 

I suspect that as the reason they fly in a V is to use the wake from the bird in front, then according to wind direction one side of the V creates slightly better wake than the other.

 

Today let's explore how " Clairvoyance " takes form.It involves
humans and thought process.Although Sigmund Freud may not
see things in the same light.
Take the case of The Titanic.14 years before the maiden voyage of
The Titanic author Morgan Robertson wrote :
- The Wreck of the Titan:,Or Futility -
The Ships name in the fictional story was Titan.With measuremnets
similar to The Titanic.The same speed both Gigantic vessels were
Travelling in the same month { April } and on the Starboard side when
hitting an Iceberg.Both sank at the exact same location in April with
too few Lifeboats.
This news by Melanie Weir under the Header :
- These Rare Titanic Photos Will Give You Goosebumps -.
As an old camera was found with the Titanic wreckage.
It also explains the use of RMS { Royal Majesty Ship } as actually being
Royal Mail Ship.
A Higher percentage of crew members died than any group aside
from 2nd and 3rd class men.
All 5 mail postmen died trying to save the ships mail they had been
charged to save.
The Wealthest man aboard John Jacob Astor IV { net worth $ 85 Million
or appx. $ 2 Billion today.As he loaded his pregnant wife onto a lifeboat
through a side window saying " The sea is calm.You'll be alright.You're
in good hands.I'll meet you in the morning."
Those were his last words to her.

 

Yep.
Our grues (cranes) have been airborne over our area for a week or so now, crossing the Pyrenees on their way north.
You can tell them by their squawk.
There is a sanctuary for them just northwest of here. They are a reliable indicator of the general weather tendancies and we like to see them. Some are so high you can't see them anymore and then suddenly they appear into view as your eyes adjust.

 

Sandhill cranes seem to know they are protected. Here in our small town, families of them forage on grassy lots in the city, seemingly unconcerned with all manner of passerby.

 

That makes sense. Any amount of crosswind could affect that, right?

 

Um ... How bouts Nothing makes no difference.
Just to be clear.

 

It is not easy to Make sense.Because it's not a physical
thing.It's a sensory faculty.One can no more touch the smell
of Poop than they can hear the taste of coffee.
Or see the sense that a Liberal makes when discussing
... I dunno ... what an Orange man be.When Orange man
goes bald.

 

If there was a distinctive advantage due to wind direction then you would expect to see geese flying in diagonal lines rather than V formations.
Why fly on the less advantageous arm at all?
I suspect the simple answer is accurate, one side is longer because there are more geese in it...
However, one possible way to test this would be next time you see multiple formations flying overhead just note whether the longest arm is always on the same side.
I've been surfing images and videos and so far haven't noticed any distinct patterns.
Here, for example one group is flying in an even formation yet the other is very lop sided.

 

Just a guess, but it makes sense

 

Not necessarily the advantage might be slight, even down to the extra effort needed to reach the upwind V. Add to that the risk of predation from being too far back, might just tip it.
To be clear this is just extrapolation I am not a goose expert.
Monte. Your picture does give a clue. The goose joining the middle V is joining the longer leg because its nearer to him? Maybe as simple as that?

 

Also, the lazy goose might think it wise to join the longer arm so it takes longer before he has to take the lead and work harder than everyone else.

 

Here is a site that has some information on nonmigratory Sandhills cranes.https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/cranes/sandhill-crane/#:~:text=Florida sandhill cranes are a non-migratory species that,by both mates with grass, moss, and sticks.

 

Greetings earthlings... and Foolie! Happy Moanday!


(For Daisy!)

 

Gas at $2.59 today.

 

Thank you.

There is nothing like a shasta daisy.

 

We got you beat we are at 2.79 here. The next state up is less expensive by about .20 cents.

 

He is lucky the owl didn't have cat on the menu.

 

Suwannee River

 

I think owls are smart enough not to take on an adult cat.
Note, the cat didn't even flinch.
Dangerous beasts cats.

 

It might depend on the hunger pangs of the owl. Owls are one of my favorites. Have you ever seen a burrowing owl, they come up out of their burrow and look almost like they are welcoming you. They have a little bowing thing going on they are a fun little bird.