Do birds that fly in formation, take off in formation?

Question

Have often seen flocks of birds flying in V-shaped formations... do they take off in that formation or do they coalesce into that formation post takeoff?

And just to clarify... there are several other questions/answers out there on *why* they fly in formation, I'm just interested in whether they _take off_ in that formation.

Answer 1

Nopes. All the birds I've observed in the field take off randomly and then do the formation after they are much higher up in the sky. In fact, most don't care about formation for short flights (like from one lake to a nearby lake).

Answer 2

No. They take off from the ground and form up into a V.

If you can watch them flying long enough, you'll see that the birds (especially geese) will change position while they're flying. The leader will drop back into one of the arms of the V and another one will take the lead. Since the other birds are flying in the slip streams of the birds in front, the leader, with no slip stream to fly in, has to work harder. So they rotate to share the work load.

Answer 3

it depend on the type of colony.
if thay are seen to be flying in formation thm it is because the are on migration.or for security reason
or to be able to use the wind or air effectively without one blocking the chance of the onther.
with the v- shape yuo see at the direction they are in every on e reaches the real air without one blocking he cahnce of the other so you see every bird face the air directly woth the v shape formation and they do so when they are in the air. onlly

Answer 4

Swimmers and bicyclists "draft" off the guy earlier than them simply by alleviation in wind or water resistance. I had in no way concept approximately birds, even though it makes appropriate sense. In triathlon, drafting is against the regulation considering you're taking the earnings of the artwork the athelete in front of you is doing. In bicycle racing inspite of the incontrovertible fact that, it extremely is usual to holiday in packs.

Answer 5

I've seen geese that take off and even land in formation. Haven't paid attention of others like ducks do that.

Answer 6

no they make the v shape in-flight