Telling someone they should try to avoid birds is usually dangerous advice. Most of the incidents occur on takeoff or landing, with little extra airspeed available for maneuvering to avoid. There was a T-38 a number of years back that took out a large section of the perimeter fence with its gear while trying to avoid a bird. It came within a few feet of a fireball due to an avoidance reaction -- no critique on the pilot, just something to think about. The best reaction I know is to duck below the glare shield (save yourself first), then take action if the bird actually hits you.
I've lost an engine twice due to birdstrikes, once entering the pattern in formation (we always briefed to take the bird rather than to maneuver with a jet a few feet away), and another on a touch and go. Avoidance was not an option in either case.
The only time I came close to hitting geese was at night. I still have visions of that V passing about 5 feet over the top of the canopy while we were at 300 knots on radar downwind. Not scary at the time, but scares the snot out of me every time I remember it. I wouldn't even have had the chance to duck.