Question: Hey Guys, Does flying in a v shape help birds save energy?

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  1. Hi Jamesy,
    Yes it does. The flying V formation creates a slipstream of ‘clean air’ for the birds behind to fly into. This results in the first bird doing most of the work but the rest of the birds taking it a little easier. You dont tend to get birds flying in the middle as if you draw V’s from the second row of birds you’ll see they hit each other and you loose the slipstream effect.
    The front bird does trade places after a while so the effort is shared by the flock.

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  2. Great answer James

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  3. Nice question, Jamesy, and very nicely explained, James.
    These V formations look so cool! There is a flock of birds that flies past our chemistry building on most days in the afternoon, at about the same time each day. Pretty much everyone stops their work to go and look at them out the window! 🙂

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