Leader of the Flock Every time I see a large flock of birds
flying about and erratically changing directions, I wonder if
there's one bird that decides which direction the flock should
go. Can you answer this? —Betty Brockett, South Haven, Michigan
George: In some bird species, one bird does lead a flock; geese
are a good example. But with smaller birds, like red-winged
blackbirds, the flock takes cues from different birds as they
fly. While there's much we still don't know about flock
movement, research into this subject indicates the birds watch
each other and change direction accordingly, sort of like people
doing "the wave" at a sporting event. A flock may change
directions for a variety of reasons, including shifting winds,
the appearance of a predator or the discovery of food or
protective habitat.