BS: ornithology and collective nouns

Subject: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: Clean Supper
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:10 AM

Does anyone know if there's a special word for a flock of geese flying in that arrow shape?

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:14 AM

Yeah.....I think it's called a flock of geese flying in an arrow shape or a vee..........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: masato sakurai
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:39 AM

"A flock of flying geese is called a skein -- like a net or a hank of wound yarn" (from HERE). A group is called "flock, gaggle, skein (only while in flight), wedge (flying in a "V" formation)" (from HERE).

~Masato

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: Clean Supper
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:56 AM

cheers

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: gnu
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 06:56 AM

Around here, if they are high on the wing it's called a vee. If they are within range, it's called breakfast.

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 07:04 AM

Did you know... that the geese take it in turns to fly at the point (where wind resistance is greatest and therefore more tiring) then drop to the back for a rest, and let the next in line take over? And that's on top of all that navigating! Bloody clever things geese.

BJ

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 07:20 AM

Yeah, as a matter of fact I did BJ! We are home to a lot of Canada Geese and I really enjoy the way they transfer the lead position. Better than watching an Air Show anytime. They shift across to the right and the far right birds swing underneath to take the new left positions, generally working in pairs. Fascinating to watch as they also change direction in the same way with different lead birds but the entire group shifting in pairs to their new positions in the vee....incredibly symetrical.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: Hrothgar
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 08:44 PM

Hey, does that mean they'd do well in the Tour de France?

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: rangeroger
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 09:52 PM

Spaw sure does know about breaking wind.

rr

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: diesel
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 10:04 PM

Would the the collective noun for the female of our own spesies be 'a Gossip of Women'

just wondering ;)

Diesel

Subject: RE: BS: ornithology and collective nouns
From: DonD
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 10:32 PM

The bible on collectives is "An Exaltation of Larks" by James Lipton (Viking NY 1991) which is comprehensive, and a fun read. He just allows a 'gaggle' on the ground or a 'skein' in the air.

Interestingly, his index gives geese the place of honor (along with fish) with five references, more than any other category.