Question about duck/goose flock leader

[bugmankeith]

I see many duck and geese flocks pass by and usually they are in a triangle formation with one leader in front. I'm curious, how is the leader of the flock decided, is it an old individual, can it be male or female, is there a special call it lets out to let everyone know they are going to fly long instead of to a nearby pond/lake? I imagine its a huge responsibility to know just the right time to migrate and follow the right migration route.

 

[Widowman10]

don't they switch off? and not all the ducks 'follow the leader' #duckhunter

 

[catfishrod69]

Im not exactly sure how it works with geese. But with crows they appoint a lookout. His job is to keep an eye out when they are feeding or whatever. If he doesnt do his job, and something happens to the other crows, they kill him and appoint a new lookout.

 

[bugmankeith]

Im not exactly sure how it works with geese. But with crows they appoint a lookout. His job is to keep an eye out when they are feeding or whatever. If he doesnt do his job, and something happens to the other crows, they kill him and appoint a new lookout.

Wow, they murder another that's crazy!

 

[catfishrod69]

Yeah it is pretty crazy. But i guess it would be for the good of the flock.

 

[bwusstig]

Yeah. They switch off. This gives the bird at the front a break. After all, they are all just drafting behind him!

 

[Widowman10]

Wow, they murder another that's crazy!

the murder murders!!

 

[VictorHernandez]

I have just finished reading a book called "Prey" by Michael Crichton, and explained this in it. Supposedly this occurrence just happens, there is no leader. Like the swarms of nanorobots in the book, they would not follow a particular nanoparticle. Distributed intelligence, as they called it.