Nature Calling: Raucous Noise Reveals Return of the Herons

Bob Benenson
May 4
2 min read

Trees at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo Hosts an Annual Bird Fest

With its verdant location near the south end of the park named for Illinois' iconic Abraham Lincoln, Chicago's Green City Market is one of the prettiest markets you're going to see. It also facilitates communing with nature during your comings and goings.

I'd wrapped up my shopping on Saturday (May 3), checked the schedule for the bus home, and saw that I had a 16-minute wait. Rather than just hang around, I decided to get some extra steps by walking a couple of stops up near Lincoln Park Zoo.

At the least I knew I'd be able to photograph some beautiful flowering trees. But as I approached the zoo, I heard a familiar raucous sound in the trees overlooking the street... a sure sign that the herons that nest in those trees had made their annual return a little earlier than usual this year.

Typically, the foliage is in more fully by the time these herons arrive, which has meant that you often hear these noisy birds more than see them. Lucky me, this time I got a few clear shots.

It's quite a spectacle, especially when some of the birds get bored and fly across Stockton Drive to the trees across the street. Highly recommended if you're in or around Chicago.

Enjoy the rest of the pretty pix of our gorgeous spring foliage.