Birds and Bands
Music, goose shenanegans, and a new member of the team!
Good Grief - Geese Galore!!!
If you have eyes or ears, you may have noticed that it’s nesting season for Chicago’s Canada Geese. Though native, these river residents have very little regard for their neighbors, and seem to take joy in terrorizing fellow waterfowl. But fear not! In just a few weeks, we’ll be rewarded for our patience with adorable fluffy goslings (and ducklings) within easy birdwatching distance of the Wild Mile.
One of our diligent River Rangers has also installed a GooseCam for more immediate gosling surveillance - stay tuned to our Instagram story for the first look at these babies when they make their debut!
May Event Calendar
The weather is lovely, and we’re all chomping at the bit to get outside! Event descriptions and RSVP links can always be found on the events page of our website.
May Music on the Wild Mile: May 3rd, 1 - 8:30pm
Wild Mile Walking Tour - Current Water Week: May 7th, 6 - 7pm
Fishing on the Wild Mile: May 10th, 10am - 2pm
River Ranger Social: May 15th, 6 - 7:30pm, (Off Color Brewing)
Wild Mile Walking Tour: May 21st, 5:30 - 6pm
Wild Mile S’mores Night: May 21st, 6 - 7:30pm
Partner Events at the Wild Mile:
After-Work Bird Walk with the Chicago Ornithological Society: May 22nd, 6 - 8pm
Flow Yoga with Movement Gym: May 23rd, 6 - 6:45pm
Office Insights
Welcome, Lally and Stephen!
We’ve recently had the joy of welcoming two awesome new staff members onto the Urban Rivers team! Pictured here trying to seem productive, Stephen and Lally will be interacting with the public all season long - if you see them on the river this year, say hi!
Citlally Fabela - Seasonal Programs Facilitator: Lally earned a B.S. in Biology at Eastern Illinois University, and has spent their career as an environmental justice advocate, avid birder, and community organizer, formerly coordinating the first ever Spanish TreeKeepers Course on the Southwest Side with Openlands and Organizing around clean air, water, and a new economy for Southeast Environmental Taskforce. Citlally is passionate about centering black, brown, and indigenous communities in their environmental work and believes that accessibility to education and stewardship in marginalized communities for future generations is key to build an equitable and liberated future where people can have a healthy relationship to nature. This summer, they’ll be introducing Spanish-language programming, and facilitating our workshops, community kayaking, and field trips!
Stephen Meyer - Volunteer Coordinator: Stephen has been a common sight on the river for years, volunteering for Urban Rivers and kayaking with his daughter, Grace. He's studied in Texas, D.C., Namibia, Florida, and Chicago, earning a B.A. in Economics, a J.D., and a Masters in Computer Science along the way. Stephen assists with managing Urban Rivers' wonderful volunteers, troubleshooting electronic equipment, and generally taking pressure off other busy staff members. He looks forward to implementing exciting new ways for volunteers to build community around the river, and loves talking with visitors, especially when swapping Chicago history stories.