Sam Fried Sam FriedSam Fried has seen and photographed almost all North American birds. Meet Sam Previous Answers

Birds fly in a V to help conserve their energy during migrations. With the exception of the individual leading the group, each bird trailing behind the other benefits from a reduction in wind resistance. The birds are deliberating tailgating each other; it's the concept of “drafting,” best known to those gutsy people who drive close behind semis on the freeway to stay out of the wind and boost their fuel efficiency.

The next time you see ducks or geese flying in a V, watch them for a while to see if the lead bird changes. Canada geese do this, and I suspect other species do, too. Since whoever is up front is working the hardest, every now and then the birds make a switch. The leader drops back — usually all the way back, where wind drag is lowest — and a rested bird comes to the front. While there is no single, unchanging “leader” for a V of birds on the move, it is the oldest, experienced individuals who are calling the navigational shots, using the sun and the stars at night to orient themselves and stay on course.

Another thing you'll often notice is how a “V” changes shape. Sometimes it looks more like a check mark, with one bird flying lead, two or three birds trailing on one side, and the majority of birds strung out on the other. This too is a strategy for dealing with wind. It usually means a crosswind is blowing — the short side of the formation is taking the brunt of the wind, while on the long side, the birds are attempting to shield one another from it.

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