Of Trees and Geese

The forecast is for over a week of rain, yet this shot is more of our typical days lately. We are getting lots of rain, but at night, and everywhere around here are getting record high temperatures.
The common thread here is that Mother Nature is confused. Our Japanese Maple is not sure when it should shed its leaves. The geese in the extra (they are there) are not sure when to migrate south.
Seeing and hearing the geese practice for their trip calls to mind a story that I used to give my basketball teams for their journals, that spoke to the importance of teamwork.

The Goose Story

By Harry Clarke Noyes

Next fall, when you see Geese heading south for the winter, flying along in V formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way: as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are.
When the Head Goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs with people or with geese flying south.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What do we say when we honk from behind?
Finally, and this is important, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshots and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.