A migratory journey through the vast contributions of geese to human culture.

Long dismissed as the dull cousin of ducks and swans, the goose proves to be a bird of astonishing significance. From medieval legends and the myth of the barnacle goose to Konrad Lorenz’s pioneering work on imprinting and the first human-led migration, geese occupy a rich place in science and story. Their quills helped write the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence. They wander through haiku, appear in art by Escher and Pissarro, and leave tracks along the Camino de Santiago. Geese inspire conservationists, from Sir Peter Scott’s search for breeding grounds to efforts to save endangered species like the ruddy-headed goose. This book is a warm, curious account of a bird that has shaped human imagination, history, and community more than we might think.