Geese - why downstream?

[The Flying Tench]

At dusk on many rivers you get the dramatic sight, and sound, of Canadian Geese and other birds flying in their V-formations, downstream. But why is it always downstream? (I know, I know - they must fly upstream in the morning!)

 

I see it less often with ducks, but it seems to be the same.

 

Any theories?

 

J

[ayjay]

At dusk on many rivers you get the dramatic sight, and sound, of Canadian Geese and other birds flying in their V-formations, downstream. But why is it always downstream? (I know, I know - they must fly upstream in the morning!)

 

I see it less often with ducks, but it seems to be the same.

 

Any theories?

 

J

There's a clue: they probably roost on the river's estuarine mud flats.

[corydoras]

There's a clue: they probably roost on the river's estuarine mud flats.

They probably also have a feed whilst they are at it. Bed and breakfast

[Ken L]

I over look a valley with a stream and a series of pools at the bottom (unfortunately I can only fish one of them) and the geese and ducks fly in formation going in both directions at all times of the day.

[chesters1]

They will have a favourite resting area and go back every night to it ,probably a large pond in that direction

If they are going in either direction perhaps they have fields in either direction they feed on but get disturbed so fly to the alternate one?

Edited October 19, 2014 by chesters1

[ayjay]

They probably also have a feed whilst they are at it. Bed and breakfast

Depends on the moon; a couple of days either side of full moon they'll feed all night.

[chesters1]

Our chickens use to as well ,much to the annoyance of the neighbours ,generally they put them selves to bed at dusk and out at dawn but a bright moon confused them

[Steve Walker]

Not hard to confuse chickens?

[ayjay]

Not hard to confuse chickens?

I can understand Chesters chickens being confused (and they have my sympathies), but they are just taking advantage of the moonlight which gives them the ability to see predators that on a dark night they couldn't, just like any other bird species.

[corydoras]

Not hard to confuse chickens?

 

 

I can understand Chesters chickens being confused (and they have my sympathies), but they are just taking advantage of the moonlight which gives them the ability to see predators that on a dark night they couldn't, just like any other bird species.

It's not the chickens who were confused, the chickens were just doing what many birds do. It's chesters who was confused.

Edited October 19, 2014 by corydoras