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Canadian Geese

V formation

Canadian Geese

V formation (sometimes called a skein)

Allow geese to conserve energy for long flight times

o Resulting in a reduction of wind resistance

o The geese upfront will shift with geese in the back when tired. Everyone gets a

shift leading the V.

Easy to keep track of every bird in the group

o The V shape may assist with communication and coordination in the group.

Migrate due to colder weather and lack of food.

Follow migration corridors – or flight paths from

northern habitats to southern habitats.

o Southern habitats include the gulf coast,

southern California, and into Mexico.

o Some will travel 5,000 miles reach speeds

of 50 mph.

*Goose Fun Fact! A group of geese is called a gaggle!

Dorca Gazelles

Groups of Three

Dorca Gazelles

Travel in Groups of three (Using the buddy system!)

Safety in numbers

o The larger the groups of gazelles together, the easier it

is to confuse prey.

Live in regions from the Mediterranean to the

southern Sahel and from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, and

extending into southern Israel, Syria

and Jordan. *Gazelle Fun Fact! Gazelles can reach

speeds up to 60 mph in short bursts and

sustain speeds of 30 to 40 mph!

Leaf Cutter Ants

Move in a Straight Line

Leaf Cutter Ants

In established colonies, millions of "workers" cut and carry

sections of leaves larger than their own bodies as part of a

well-choreographed, highly functioning society.

The insects chew up the leaves they cut and integrate

them into a fungus garden, which then becomes both their

food and their living space.

Do not have permanent homes,

instead seeking out food for their

enormous colonies during periods

of migration. *Leaf Cutter Ant Fun Fact! Leafcutter ants

can carry more than 5000 times their body weight!

Flamingos

‘March’ in large groups

Flamingos

‘March’ in large groups

o Will move in the same direction and turn at the same time (like a marching

band)

o All are in sync with each other when ‘marching’

Head flagging is a process of stretching their necks far back, raising it up, and then

turning it from one side to the next.

The wing salute is a form of friendly interaction among them.

Marching is a common behavior that you will see large numbers of the Flamingos

engaging in. They will march in one direction for

a while and then quickly turn to go the other

way.

Flamingos are often engaged in the same

behaviors at the same time, including mating.

Behaviors can be sought out based on the time of

day that it is.

*Flamingo Fun Fact! Flamingo chicks are born with grey and white

feathers. They do not turn pink for a year or two. Their beaks are

straight, and begin to curve as they grow and mature

Elephants

Young elephants will hold an adults tail

when walking.

Elephants

Elephants form strong bonds. They move in a herd, family groups with a

leader and members.

Family is ruled and led by matriarch (elder female), followed by the rest of

the females and their young.

Young elephants will grab on to their mothers tail for protection and

security.

When migrating, mature elephants do not walk single file line while

holding tails. This behavior is a trained

behavior often seen in zoos or circuses.

However, young elephants will hold an

adult elephant’s tail at times and when

migrating.

*Elephant Fun Fact! The elephant is the

only one mammal can’t jump.

Kookaburra

Contagious ‘Laughter’

Kookaburra

The bird's "laugh", which it uses to establish territory among family groups.

One bird starts with a low, hiccupping chuckle, then throws its head back

in raucous laughter: often several others join in.

o If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon

gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter.

o The call sounds like a variety of trills, chortles, belly laughs, and hoots.

It starts and ends with a low chuckle and has a

shrieking "laugh" in the middle.

The laughing kookaburra is one of four species of

kookaburra; the other three are the blue-winged

kookaburra, the spangled kookaburra, and the rufous-

bellied kookaburra.

*Kookaburra Fun Fact! The offspring of the laughing

kookaburra help their parents take care of the next

generation.

Owls

Head Bobbing

Owls

Owls have two ears, like we do. However one is high up on their

head, and the other down lower near their mouth. This helps with

homing in on prey when hunting.

Owls will bob their head to home in on prey by making a “triangle”

from one ear to the prey, and then back to the other ear.

o Triangulation

If the owl were to be perched on a

windy branch, the owl’s body could be

moving but it has the ability to stabilize

its head for the same purpose of

finding the exact location of their prey.

*Owl fun fact! There are over 200

different species of Owls!

Zebras

Move in big groups to confuse predators

Zebras

Individuals living in large groups may be safer from attack because the predator

may be confused by the large group size.

To reduce the risk of attack by lions and hyenas, zebras often travel in herds.

The striped patterns of all the zebras in the herd may confuse the predator,

making it harder for the predator to focus in on an individual zebra.

Furthermore, when moving rapidly, the zebra stripes create a confusing, flickering

motion dazzle effect in the eye of the predator.

o Motion Dazzle - requires rapidly moving bold patterns of contrasting stripes.

Motion dazzle may degrade predators' ability to estimate the prey's

speed and direction accurately, giving the prey

an improved chance of escape.

*Zebra Fun Fact! Each zebra has its own unique strip pattern,

just like human finger prints!