I saw a V-Formation of about 30 birds last week (June 7) flying together. What kind of bird would this be? Whe

Question

Southeastern NC, USA.
About 2pm EST.
They were not geese.

Where were they going?
p.s.- They were not pelicans!

Answer 1

I can't imagine they were migrating this late in the summer. But with this Global Warming issue, who can say. What direction were they flying? I would guess they were just moving to another spot to feed, or maybe a cooler/warmer place. Many species of birds fly in this formation all over the world (especially migrating birds, but not all). I can't tell you the species because of this reason. I would need a good description or photos. I can tell you the reason they fly in these formations. The bird in the front breaks the wind so the flying is easier in succession for the birds in both rows, with the last bird doing the least work, as he/she just finished his/her turn at being the in the front and has shifted to the back to rest. The two birds behind the one in front will alternate in taking up head position. They will alternate all the way back and begin again. Sometimes, its the opposite; the birds just behind the bird in head position have just finished their shift and the birds in the back will come up to take head position. This whole technique is basically an energy saving maneuver and helps birds fly long distances without having to stop to eat or drink. I learned this from my captain (who had been a fisherman for fifty plus years) when I worked as a fisherman in Alaska. Fishermen watch birds, and I have been watching various species of migrating and non-migrating birds of every shape and size do this for sixteen years since then in ten different countries. I doubt anyone could tell you the species without a desription or photo, but if you really want to know, you can get a field guidebook about local birds and migrating birds of your area. Good luck.

Answer 2

that's actual in some seasonal birds. They migrate from one place to a various with the aid of flying tens of thousand of miles during season shifting era. The chook that leads the V formation is the chief of the flight. over the years, the chief would be drained and the subsequent chook will fly to the front and lead the full group of birds at the same time as the chief will fly on the returned to take some relax. After particular cases, returned, the chief would be tired of flying and could fly to the returned of the V formation at the same time as yet yet another new chook will replace the drained chook to be the chief of the flight. This changing of leaders in flight will bypass on until they attain their holiday spot. those birds have management and the spirit of working as a collection at the same time. Amazingly mystical, no?

Answer 3

What did they look like? alot of birds fly in a V formation, ducks, geese, swans, pelicans, cranes.... I see alot of Sandhill cranes flying in V formation they are really big with long necks and long legs. If you provide a better description of the birds it would be easier...

Anyway here are some pics I took of Sandhill cranes flying they were in a V formation but at the time I took the pic they had begun spiralling down in a long descent to land in the adjacent field. Maybe if you look at the pics you will be able to see if they looked the same as the birds you saw. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/jaspertopaz6/October42006LeeValley068.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/jaspertopaz6/October42006LeeValley067.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/jaspertopaz6/October42006LeeValley066.jpg

Answer 4

There are many types of migratory birds that fly in that formation so it is kind of hard to determine without a photo. However, my guess is that you saw Canadian Geese heading north to their breeding grounds. In the north, Canadian Geese flying south in fall are always a sign that winter is coming and flying north in the spring is a sign of summer coming. I live in NY and love to watch these birds fly by. I will watch them until they are out of sight.

Here are some photos..........

http://www.scienceandart.org/zoocourse/animalpicts/v_geeseflight.jpg

http://www.motifwebs.com/albums/nature_canada_03/geese_flying_sept03_3.jpg

Answer 5

This late in the season? I'd put my money on Double-crested Cormorants, especially if they were silent in flight (Canada Geese are notoriously noisy fliers). Canada Geese that are nesting on the east coast now have young, but I'm not sure whether they're moving around in flocks yet.

Answer 6

probably pelicans they always fly in formation

Answer 7

Swans?

They have rather loud noisy wing beats