Herons & Goslings & Ducklings Are a Few of My Favorite Things

North Pond in Spring is a Nature Immersion in the Middle of Chicago

Photo by Bob Benenson

As I've written many times, North Pond in Lincoln Park is one of my happiest Chicago places. A bird sanctuary, it is always a lovely refuge for humans amidst the big city's bustle. But it comes most to life in the spring with its multi-colored burst of new foliage, flocks of adorable baby waterfowl, and a rather amazing visitation of a variety of herons.

I hope these photos from a visit on Sunday will provide a midweek moment of Zen.

WOOD DUCKLINGS

Photo by Bob Benenson

Photo by Bob Benenson

Photo by Bob Benenson

GOSLINGS

Photo by Bob Benenson

Photo by Bob Benenson

HERONS

Photo by Bob Benenson

Photo by Bob Benenson

Photo by Bob Benenson

Photo by Bob Benenson

OTHER BIRDS

I'm pretty sure this is a tern. And if you look closely, you'll see that it has a just caught fish in its mouth. Wild Kingdom! Photo by Bob Benenson

Cormorants are also diving birds. They mostly hang out in the lake or harbors, but this one has the pond pretty much to itself. BTW, the turtles must have had a prolific winter because they are all over the pond. Photo by Bob Benenson

Any birders know what this pretty bird is? Photo by Bob Benenson

SQUIRREL!

Photo by Bob Benenson

FOLIAGE

Big lilac bush. Photo by Bob Benenson

Allium flowers. Actually big round clusters of tiny flowers. Photo by Bob Benenson

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