Apparently, East European gymnasts aren't the only creatures in the world that can contort their bodies into strange and eye-popping positions. It seems that geese can also twist themselves every which way but loose when they need to. And they need to do it when they are trying to slow themselves down quickly while flying at high speeds. Although this photograph might look like a bird in dire need of some flying lessons, or perhaps suffering some ill effects after having sipped from a lake where there was acatastrophic vodka spill, it is actually deliberately using a clever and common practice amongst some geese. 

The painful-looking and strange body positioning the birds get into is known as "whiffling", and involves them flipping their bodies upside down and contorting their necks at a 180º angle.

 

By contorting their bodies, the high-flying birds are able to spill air out of their wings which enables them to slow down quickly and reduce height at the same time. Some experts saywhiffling enables the birds to drop like a lead balloon in a matter of moments, while somehow still staying stable.  All that they need to do to level out, or gain more height is to flip themselves over and have a quick flap of their wings.   This technique allows the birds greater control than if they were to simply nose dive.

 

The bird in this photo is a greylag goose and the shot was taken by a 73 year old British wildlife photographer Brian McFarlane while watching the animal preparing to land on a lake at an RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve in Norfolk, England.

 

McFarlane was shocked when he saw the way the goose was trying to land in windy weather and was concerned that it might end up crashing. He said that several birds attempted the odd-looking landings, and despite this being a documented techniqueamongst the geese, he noted that some of them were significantly better at it than others.  In fact, a few of the unlucky ones were thrown around in mid-air.  However, he said that although the animals may look like they are out of control, they actually know what they're doing,  as not a single bird crash landed, and even the clumsier birds were able to regain control and try it again.