Meet Karl, a lone Canada goose adopted into a flock — and now featured in a book

Karl is out there somewhere, completely oblivious to the fact he's the subject of a new children's story. 

The book, coming out this March, is about the lone Canada goose adopted into a flock that landed at the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary in the town of Kingsville in southwestern Ontario.

Oddly, the author is a banker named Brett Moyer from New Jersey. So how did this connection come to be?

In a social media post by the sanctuary, staff said the bird came to them in 2022 with a family who raised him for the first few months of his life.

"He was a huge hit and often would be seen walking side by side with staff, and trying to enter the museum and other buildings to join staff meetings." 

"His favourite place to sit was right on your feet," the post stated.

Staff at the sanctuary said Karl also has a distinguished mark of having one feather on his back that is loose. It sticks up and makes him stand out. 

He was not banded because of the avian flu crisis affecting birds when he got to Kingsville.

LISTEN | Children's book author talks about how Karl the goose got on his radar:

Windsor Morning6:54The Story of A Canada Goose Named Karl

Karl is out there somewhere, likely unaware that he's about to become the subject of a children's story. The book will be coming out this spring, and available at Jack Miner's bird sanctuary, a place where Karl has many friends. Windsor Morning Host Amy Dodge spoke to the books author Brett Moyer.

CBC Radio's Windsor Morning host Amy Dodge spoke with Moyer to find out how he came across Karl.

Here's a part of their conversation about the picture book and the bird that has since migrated — but could return.

How did you find out about Karl?

I started writing books about three years ago. That's certainly not my day job. 

But about a year and a half ago my wife and I were volunteering with the Wild Bird Fund NYC, and we do a lot of amazing work with waterfowl and other migratory birds in the region. 

We have two geese that are residents here named George and Gertrude that my wife named. And we fell in love with them. And I'd written a book about George and Gertrude trying to teach children and even adults, about these amazing creatures.

I reached out to the Jack Miner sanctuary about a year ago today, and was curious if they'd be interested in having this book in their gift shop. 

And that's when Tom Coke, the director there, said, I have an even better idea. 'I have a goose here named Karl that we would have an amazing story to tell in one of your books.' 

What makes Karl so unique for you? 

Karl's a really interesting bird. 

It's very rare to see a lone Canada goose. It may mean that they're injured or sick. Or can geese mourn? They mate for life, and they could be mourning. 

To have a lone goose show up at the sanctuary and be adopted into a family is just a wonderful story in itself. But what makes it even more amazing? 

He would greet visitors … kind of the welcoming committee.- Brett Moyer

They get this wonderful, positive impression if you're a nice person to them. According to those who've been at the Jack Miner sanctuary, Karl knew his name. He would greet visitors. He was kind of the welcoming committee, to those who would visit. 

And that's something we definitely want to teach in our books, too, just about having this loving, welcoming compassion. 

How did you turn this into something children would enjoy hearing about? 

I think it's a nice story. You know, something we can all relate to. 

I think all of us, not only children, but even adults, we go through these phases where we truly are lost. And we were fortunate enough to be saved. 

This was such a wonderful story of being able to talk children through … this feeling of not having acceptance and maybe being lost and just being adopted into this amazing family to help nurture and help you kind of find that new beginning. 

Karl was not banded. He is just out there, wild, with his new family. 

If Karl comes back. How will they know if he's not banded? 

He will absolutely know his name. 

So many geese have this amazing recollection of how to find their way home over thousands of miles. 

And each goose does have different markings. I'm sure those at the sanctuary will quickly recognize him, and he will run over and give them a big hug. 

The goose will run over and give them a big hug?

They've been known — if there's corn in your pocket — they will run to you. Absolutely. 

This is a picture book. Tell us what it looks like. 

I'll be honest. As you kind of mentioned my day job as in banking, I'm not artistically gifted. 

All of my previous six children's books I have drawn by hand with coloured pencil, but this one I was fortunate enough to partner with a professional illustrator. 

Kind of detailing the life of Karl from his family, having the egg and keeping it warm — to him being a young gosling, to growing up into a juvenile and actually taking to the skies. 

It's a beautiful picture book, with 16 pictures all throughout that kind of detail his life as he takes the skies. 

And if Karl returns, will there be a sequel? 

Absolutely. I'm currently in talks with them about other lessons that Karl can teach us. 

And, you know, that's one of the amazing things about these. They have such a good understanding of family protecting one another. 

Karl will absolutely be back, in another book in the very near future.