Here's how it works:
* Pointing: Some breeds, like pointers and setters, are trained to "point" at birds. They freeze, their body language indicating the location of the birds.
* Retrieving: After the birds are flushed, the dog retrieves the downed birds.
The flushing is not done by scaring the birds, but by:
* Movement: The dog's movement through the field disturbs the birds, causing them to take flight.
* Scent: The dog's scent can be unsettling to the birds, prompting them to move.
* Training: Dogs are trained to act in a way that will flush the birds, usually by moving towards them in a controlled manner.
So, the goal is to *move* the birds, not scare them. The scared birds are much harder to shoot and retrieve.