The Sound of a Thousand Geese Taking Off at Once

BirdNote^®
The Sound of a Thousand Geese Taking Off at Once
Written by Conor Gearin

This is BirdNote.

    [Snow Geese calls, ML529854981]

Snow Geese flocks are massive. During migration, they gather in the tens of thousands. And they coordinate their movements with the skill of schooling fish or starlings that turn together on a dime.

These Snow Geese are resting on the surface of the water. Then, the sight of a Bald Eagle spooks them, and they all take flight… simultaneously.

    [Snow Geese wing woosh followed by calls, ML529854981]

That big woosh is the wings of a thousand Snow Geese beating together, creating a rush of air like a passing freight train. Here it is one more time.

    [Snow Geese wing woosh followed by calls, ML529854981]

As the tornado of geese whirls in the air, their calls build to an enormous crescendo.

    [Snow Geese calls, ML529854981]

Like a school of fish swimming close together when there’s a shark, these Snow Geese use their numbers to protect themselves. Flying in a big, compact flock, they make it harder for a predator to pick off a single bird.

It’s a display of skill and grace that, for a Snow Goose, is just a fact of life.

For BirdNote, I’m Ariana Remmel.

BirdNote is grateful to Dr. Gordon Orians, a co-founder of BirdNote's Science Advisory Council, for his generous ongoing support.
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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Snow Geese ML529854981 recorded by Bill Schmoker.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2024 BirdNote October 2024
Narrator: Ariana Remmel

ID# SNGO-05-2024-10-17        SNGO-05

Reference:
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/150637371