What makes large flocks of birds in flight all change direction simultaneously?

Question

The same goes for schools of dolphin, fish, whales and nearly all species of birds......sheep, horses. Is it always the same animal in the lead? How does the last animal.....could be 50th or 350th in the flock/pack know what direction the first is going to go in to change direction at the same moment?

Answer 1

Many birds that flock pay attention to visual cues and react quickly. Sheep and horse the same but not as quick. Schooling fish detect the motion because of pressure changes with their lateral line. They evolved to move as one so predators have a harder time singling them out.

Horses, cows, sheep and chickens have a leader. Birds like cranes alternate. Most flocking birds don't have a leader. Fish act as one mind. They want to go to the center but there may not be enough oxygen in a tight school so they have to go to the outside where they are more vulnerable from time to time.

Answer 2

Flocking can be simulated on a computer. There are two rules. (1) swim/fly away from any predator (2) if your neighbour moves, follow. The change of direction of a flock or school does not happen instantly but it is very fast as the ripple spreads through the flock. The flock or school would all be headed in the same direction for whatever reason, often food, but their movement on the way is governed by the two simple rules.

Answer 3

They change direction in order to take advantage of the wind/air currents around them. As much as they can do this, they can conserve their energy and travel farther. Some even go to extremes. You know the "V" that geese make when flying south for the winter? By doing this and alternating the lead position, the flock as a whole is able to conserve about 30% of the energy it would take to fly alone.

As for how they know, they usually give body signals, whistle, or the guys behind the leader just keep an eye out for the lead flier/swimmer and follow its lead.

Answer 4

All of our ideas are an educated guess at best. I have often seen a flock of about a hundred starlings avoiding a sparrow hawk.
The twists and turns along with the noise that their wings make only at these times convinces me that at such times they have a communal mind.
It`s not a big step from me and you when we know that the phone is going to ring soon, it does. Or when it does ring we know who is on the other end. Or how often have you been thinking of a person who will then call you? I believe that we have a vestigal communal mind. Birds need one more than us so why not.

Answer 5

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