The European Union has classified species as ‘invasive exotics’, when considered harmful to the native flora and fauna and thus forming a threat to biodiversity. Each member country is obliged to combat these species and restrain them for further spreading and breeding.

Due to human influences of globalisation and climate change, the amount of immigrant species is increasing rapidly. In other words, human impact on the physical environment provoke the rise of ‘invasive species’ which subsequently humans need to eradicate. This raises severe questions of the moral responsibility of humans acting ‘like masters of nature’.

Locally, when going through the Dutch province of North Brabant’s “Action Plan for Invasive Exotics”, a rather special bird piqued our curiosity. The Egyptian goose, being an animal with the capability of flying and transcending borders, already resides in the Netherlands for many years. It appears that the goose, is no longer welcome across Europe and has been declared as “Invasive alien species of Union concern”. A sales ban, the phasing out from zoos any other form of ownership, a rapid eradication of any newly emerging populations or the management of established populations, ... are all set out regulations by the European commission. 

The proposed two sided blanket is considered as an attempt for the encounter of a human and the Egyptian goose in its local habitat. Based on a picnic setting, it imagines the possibility of allowing a human and the bird to meet the physical, political and historical aspects of the goose.