Wild geese are exceptional aerial travelers. Every autumn and winter, they travel in vast, orderly flocks from their Siberian homes to southern China for the winter. The following spring, after another long journey, they return to Siberia to mate and breed. With flight speeds ranging from 68 to 90 kilometers per hour, their epic journeys can span one to two months.
During these long migrations, the geese maintain a highly disciplined formation, often flying in a "V" or line shape. As they fly, they constantly emit "honk, honk" calls, which serve as signals for mutual encouragement, communication, takeoff, and rest.
Why do wild geese insist on such strict and orderly formations?
It turns out that this formation helps conserve energy. The lead goose creates an updraft while flapping its wings, which the following geese can utilize to fly faster and more efficiently. A flock consists of young and old, strong and weak; to complete a migration of thousands or even tens of thousands of kilometers, individual strength is insufficient—mutual support is essential. Strong and experienced geese lead the way, providing updrafts that make it easier for younger geese to keep up. When a lead goose becomes exhausted from the heavy exertion, it voluntarily moves to the back of the formation to rest, and a stronger goose immediately takes its place at the front. This cycle repeats continuously. It is this profound sense of collectivism that allows geese to overcome harsh weather and even the monsoon winds of the Himalayas, successfully completing their great migrations.
Wild geese act this way, and so do humans.
The development of a collective relies on division of labor and cooperation. By harnessing collective strength and forming a team that encourages and supports one another, a group can overcome any obstacle as long as each member performs their duty to the best of their ability. Furthermore, individuals within such a collective can develop and progress more efficiently, making it easier to achieve great leaps during their own life journeys.
