Easter Egg Hunts Ruffle Feathers of Uptown's Mother Goose

As tens of thousands of children hunt for Easter eggs this weekend, a Mother Goose in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood keeps close watch of her eggs at Weiss Memorial Hospital.

Weezie – as the Mother Goose is affectionately known by hospital employees, volunteers and neighbors – stands guard along with her male counterpart named George atop of the hospital’s parking garage. Weiss Hospital provides additional security to ensure the soon to be family of 11 stays safe through the incubation, hatching, brooding and rearing periods before the gaggle jumps into the great waters of Lake Michigan.

Weezie laid her 9 eggs, two more than the last two years, a couple of weeks ago. The goslings are expected to emerge from their shells mid-April. Meantime, Weezie will keep her eggs warm before she shows her goslings a thing or two about living in the great outdoors.

Close-by is a volunteer caretaker who has become quite the "Goose Whisperer", making sure the needs of the nest are being met.

This is the fourth year Weezie and George landed at their temporary birthing center of sorts, nestled amid Weiss’ community Rooftop Farm. A kiddie pool is strategically positioned near the planter boxes, so the goslings can practice swimming before they head to Lake Michigan (at Montrose Harbor) to wade in greater waters. The walk has come to be known as the “Weiss Waddle.” Check it out here.

Join the journey via Weiss’ Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and watch how this story takes flight through early May.