Why do some birds fly in a V-formation while migrating?

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You asked why birds fly in a v-formation during migration. This is due to aerodynamics. Scientists believe there are two reasons why birds fly in this way. Firstly, the shape of the formation reduces the drag force that each bird experiences if they are flying alone. The second reason is that this formation allows the birds to communicate more easily. The v-formation provides the birds with good visual contact of each other in order to keep the flock together. For a more detailed explanation you may go to Aerospaceweb.org website where this information was extracted from (last accessed 1 August 2007).

In addition, you may be interested in the following books which provide further information:
1) Title Nature's flyers : birds, insects, and the biomechanics of flight / David E. Alexander ; foreword by Steven Vogel.
Author Alexander, David (David E.)
Publisher Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, c2002.
Call no.: 573.798 ALE

2) Title The secrets of animal flight / Nic Bishop.
Author Bishop, Nic, 1955-
Publisher Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 1997.
Call no.: J 591.1 BIS

3) Title Ride the wind : airborne journeys of animals and plants / by Seymour Simon ; illustrated by Elsa Warnick.
Author Simon, Seymour.
Publisher San Diego : Browndeer Press, c1997.
Call no.: J 591.52 SIM

To check the availability of the titles, please use our online catalogue at http://www.nlb.gov.sg/

I hope the above satisfies your enquiry. If you need further information, please do not hesitate to email us.