To the Lake, Weezie Walk

 

I’ve blogged here before about my friend Wally Bytnar or Grandfather Goose who tends the geese who lay on the rooftop at Weiss Hospital and have blogged here http://memoirouswrite.blogspot.com/2018/05/weezie-walk.html

About the Incredible Journey that happens every spring when Wally calls upon Facebook followers to help him herd the mama and baby goslings down the parking ramp and down the block to the lake for their epic jump into the harbor waters at Montrose.

Here is this year’s round up from a good friend and photographer and an excellent journalist herself, Chicago-native, Lyda Jackson.

Today, I did an early morning 5 mile walk, but the most memorable walk today took place a little later. The destination was a mere 1/2 mile from my home. I accompanied some friends as they escorted a goose family, with 7-3 day old goslings to their new water home.

 For the last 12 years, this has been a seasonal mission for my friend, Walter Bytnar aka "Grandfather Goose." Geese have been making their nests on the 6th level of the Weiss Memorial Hospital parking structure for many years. It seems like it would be an ideal place for these Canadian Geese to make a nest, fairly safe from predators. The problem comes when the goslings hatch and the parents try to get them to water, where they will learn to swim, before they can fly. The parents would go down to the ground level and call for their young ones. The babies blindly follow the trumpeting calls of their parents, leaping down 6 stories without the ability to fly. This has had tragic results as most of them are killed by the fall. Then comes the dangerous trek across Chicago's busy streets and Lake Shore Drive.

So Wally has befriended the geese on the top of the parking garage and has gained their trust. He watches over the nesting parents as the female lays her eggs and sits on them, Bringing them food, water, and speaking softly to them. he is typically able to get close enough to the nest that the  mama goose will proudly show him her eggs and hatchlings. He watches closely for signs that the parents are getting restless and alerts volunteers that the time near.

So the journey starts down the ramps of the Weiss Memorial Hospital parking structure. This portion took nearly an hour. Then across streets, under viaducts, and into Lincoln Park where a pond awaited the arrival of this young family. There are many distractions along the way for these young ones to experience; fresh, tender green grass to nibble on, puddles to swim in, and the wonder of it all. The parents are ever vigilant of the potential dangers and need corralling, by our Pied Piper of sorts, to go the right way. One wrong turn could result in one of these goslings becoming a "Scooby Snack" for a dog, a casualty of an inattentive driver, or a victim of a mischievous or overenthusiastic human.

Along the way, there were many well wishers and curious onlookers. A police cruiser even blocked off part of a street to make safe passage. As we got closer to our destination, the little ones were getting so tired and tried to stop. After all, this was a lot of walking for 3 day old tiny legs. But they made it. As we watched the family waddle towards the pond, we sighed a breath of relief and satisfaction that this family has made it this far. This is the beginning of their journey of life.

#grandfathergoose #morningwalk #beautyintheordinary #myneighborhood

All photos: Lyda Jackson