Opeens Ganzenvader

by Michael Quetting

Michael Quetting werkt bij het Max Planck Instituut voor Ornithologie. Voor een nieuw onderzoeksproject besluit hij enkele ganzen zo te trainen dat ze hem in zijn ultralightvliegtuig volgen, om data te verzamelen over het weer en vluchtpatronen. Maar voor het zover is, moeten eerst de eieren uitgebroed worden. Zodra de zeven kuikens rondscharrelen komt de kersverse ganzenvader er al snel achter dat het net echte kinderen zijn, met elk hun eigen persoonlijkheid.

Op liefdevolle wijze laat Michael Quetting ons kennismaken met de avonturen van zijn ganzenfamilie. Hij vertelt hoe ze opgroeien en zich ontwikkelen, en uiteindelijk samen met hem land, water en lucht ontdekken, tot het moeilijke moment van het afscheid aanbreekt. Wanneer het tijd is geworden om de ganzen hun vrijheid terug te geven, weet Michael dat zijn leven nooit meer hetzelfde zal zijn.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Animals, Nature, Birds

240 pages, Hardcover

Published August 21, 2018

Reviews

[Rozanna Lilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little book about how interaction with animals can fundamentally change a person for the better. The sentiments are a bit predictable - being 'papa' to a flock of geese made the author appreciate the here and now much more etc - but it's a relaxing read and overall the book has a lot of heart. The prose is unremarkable yet somehow that works with the story rather than against it, underscoring the author's position as a scientific researcher rather than an author. I enjoyed it.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

If you’ve ever had a magical connection with a creature of another species, this is recommended reading! Papa Goose is the heartwarming story of a scientist’s journey being surrogate father to seven goslings, raised to wear data loggers to collect valuable information about real-time atmospheric conditions and the flight mechanics and aerodynamic adaptations of these little geese.

Michael Quetting is a laboratory manager at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology. His account of his time with the little geese is personal, moving and very interesting.

As he oversaw the scientific experiment, he was constantly surprised by how the goslings affected him emotionally. For me, this was the hook.

In Quetting’s words: “Seven little greylag goslings have helped me find myself again after years of being lost and shown me what really matters in life: loving others and loving life itself.”

“With the geese, I could simply be for months on end. Without expectation or judgment. This created in me a sense of emotional freedom that I’ve never experienced before.”

Really wonderful! I had a hard time putting this down. The science was interesting, but the relationships between Papa and goslings were captivating. – Kathleen G.

[Aban (Aby) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Michael Quetting interviewed on the CBC, and his talk about raising seven goslings made me want to read his book. I wasn’t disappointed.

Quetting worked at the Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, in Germany. It was his task to raise the goslings so that, in time, they could be used to gather data about the weather and flight patterns. In order to do this, the goslings had to imprint on him and Quetting achieved this by talking to the eggs while they were in the incubator and by being present at the very moment the goslings emerged from their shells. He then lived with them in the woods, day and night. They slept, cuddled as close to him as they could get, went for walks and swam with him, and needed him close by at all times. They had distinct personalities: one refused to do what he wanted, another loved to cuddle.

Much as Michael Quetting might have taught his goslings, the reverse was also true! He learned to relax, to live for the moment, to enjoy nature . . . a valuable lesson indeed!

Papa Goose is a light, easy read. Quetting writes with great humour and charm, and I loved experiencing his year with the goslings. I am sure that every other reader will too.

[Rossella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certo il racconto di questo ricercatore non trasmette la bellezza e la gioia della natura e degli animali e del loro studio con l'intensità ineguagliabile di cui è stato capace Konrad Lorenz, ma è comunque gradevole da leggere per chi è appassionato di uccelli e di volo e per chi ha vissuto la fortunata e coinvolgente esperienza di veder nascere e far crescere delle ochette come loro mamma.
Mi ha ricordato da vicino uno dei film che preferivo da ragazzina: Fly away home (L'incredibile volo), diretto da Carroll Ballard nel 1996.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly requested this because it sounded like the plot of movie Fly Away Home (it did end up being similar in a lot of ways). Super cute - if you're an animal lover, this is well worth a read. 3 1/2 stars

[Selina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das richtige Buch zur richtigen Zeit!
Der Autor beschreibt atmosphärisch, liebevoll und unterhaltsam wie er sieben Gänseküken aufgezogen und mit ihnen zusammen geflogen ist.
Wunderbar zum Entschleunigen und genau richtig für Tier- und Naturliebhaber.

[Mackenzie Albrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and touching memoir about a man and his seven geese that imprinted on him in the name of science. This book contained less of the science/data that I was expecting, and was more the author’s experience living with and working with the geese.

[Lee McKerracher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book!

Science and research can sometimes be a slightly boring read (no disrespect intended, but its mostly not exciting to the general public) but this book delves into research undertaken by the Max Plank Institute and puts a very human, and animal, face into the process.

Michael Quetting writes about his year of looking after 7 geese, right from hatching through to maturity, to end up being able to utilise these amazing birds in understanding their flight patterns, formations and how they use air currents, leading to possibly obtaining meteorological information for weather prediction in places where we can't do that now.

The beauty of this book lies in the bond between Michael (Papa Goose) and the geese, right from imprinting Michael as their 'parent' through to the conclusion of the research.

The amazing thing is the strong bond this group made together. Not only did the geese learn from Michael, but the geese taught Michael many things as well, including perhaps a new perspective on what really is important in life.

A truly beautiful and emotional book.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wirklich nett zu lesen :-) 3,5*

[Susanna Natti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author's account of his time as the imprinted parent of seven goslings is moving and never too cute. Michael Quetting has been given the mission of raising this clutch of geese as part of a research project designed to equip birds with tracking equipment that would allow taking meteorological data and other information. It's not easy: as their parent, he endures poop-covered clothing, limbs that fall asleep because he doesn't dare remove his hand or foot from their sleeping area (pandemonium and panic for the little geese if he does), and, later, tracking them down when they go astray. He is newly divorced and stressed, but in his growing relationship with the geese, he finds a rhythm and focus that is so complete and centered on just being, just existing in the day as it unfolds, that this experiment transforms him. The geese have definite personalities. Without anthropomorphising them, he still develops bonds - even love - for his charges.

[Julie Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publishers.
Interesting read about a man who imprints himself on 7 goslings in order to use them for some flight recordings. I learnt a lot about Geese and what it takes to imprint on them properly. It was also fascinating to read how he spent a lot of that time with just the Geese and only the occasional human interaction. Be prepared to find out Geese poop looks a certain colour depending on their food. There is a fair bit of poop.
This book will be good for animal lovers - to see the interactions between man and bird but I was constantly questioning the choice to raise them with a human in enclosures rather than in the wild. I struggled with some of that part of the journey at times.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What child, upon learning about imprinting phenomenon in baby birds, has never mused "What if I got a hatchling to imprint on me?" Folks, Michael Quetting got to live out our fantasies, and it's simultaneously as adorable as and a lot messier than our blithe imaginings. Read about his year living in a small camper in Germany raising greylag goslings who think he's their papa. The writing could have been a bit more polished, but the weirdest aspect of the book is the bizarre dialect the locals seem to speak when communicating with Quetting -- are they members of a Quaker community, or is it just an unusual way to translate from the original German?

I received this ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet but insubstantial. A touching tale about a scientist raising 7 goslings he has imprinted upon from hatchlings. All in the name of experiments into wind speed, avian interactions with weather during flight and, potentially, the future with monitoring taking place from the Russian space station. Largely a story about Micha (the author's nickname) and how the goslings brought him back to equilibrium after his divorce. I didn't cry.

[Amy Heap · Rating 3 out of 5]

A scientist at something of a crossroads in his personal life, sets out on an intensive science experiment, learning a lot about nature, and himself. He imprints on seven goslings, and becomes their father, in the hope of getting new flying data from them. The experiment is full of ups and downs and an awful lot of goose dropping. It's a sweet, and funny little book with interesting scientific detail and plenty of popular philosophy designed to make us think about our priorities.

[Sharon Bush Viehdorfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worthwhile Read

Michael Quetting makes a good papa goose. His 7 goslings set the bar high with their parenting expectations. The Book was enjoyable as it moved from hatching eggs for future research to the intricacies of human/bird relationships. From learning to waddle across the terrain to flying over the landscape, papa goose and his birds allow a rare insight into a growing flock.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vrolijk boekje, vooral leuk om te leren over hoe grappig en individueel ganzen kunnen zijn. De verteller is een beetje een kluns, en zijn persoonlijke ontdekkingstocht leidt eerlijk gezegd teveel af van de boodschap van het verhaal. En dat is dat hoe graag je ook wilt dat ganzen je helpen met het vergaren van data, uiteindelijk lukt het alleen als je ze op je schoot neemt en op 1000 meter hoogte uit je propellorvliegtuigje gooit. Mooi man.

[D'face · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginary conversations with juvenile geese. Who knew that geese can fly upside down? Raising geese so they imprinted on him the author relates their upbringing and his efforts to recruit them to science. Unfortunately geese are not such great scientific subjects, at least as flying weather data collectors.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming story about a scientist who imprints 7 goslings, with a view to eventually fly with them in a light plane, and research data about weather and flight patterns. Not as easy as you might think. What I marvelled about was the way he got to know their individual personalities and used that in his research.

[Kayrene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book; his relationship with the goslings (as papa goose), and I learned so much about geese! Who knew they flipped their bodies when they land? Really enjoyable. I had heard this book was connected to film, Fly Away Home. Now I know it is not, but I am so glad I picked this up. Great story, very entertaining. Laughed out loud funny!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening and Touching

There is so much we live in ignorance of, and now I have diminished that a small amount regarding geese. Such a heartfelt journey for a scientist who became enchanted by his subjects! A truly enlightening read about the definitely distinctive personality that each goose had. What's not to love?!

[Irene Brouwer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest this is not normally something I would intentionally pick up to read but a friend suggested it. It was overall quite a sweet little recounting of a man raising a gaggle of geese for a scientific experiment. A nice change of pace.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sjov, sød, saglig og bestemt ikke uden gode pointer

[Toni Wittus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that pulls at your heartstrings whether you are an animal lover or not. Cute, fun read

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing experiment of sorts, where the author handraised a group of goslings, with the aim of training them to fly alongside his glider, to assist in gathering weather data.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enchanting.

[Angie Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A totally different, true story and a very easy read.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-warming.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An experiment where a man raises a flock of geese from eggs, teaches them to fly, attaches tracking devices, and then releases them into the wild.

[Deb M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great summer read. Geese and how they learn and then enjoy the hilarity of Papa Goose.