Spring Babies and Soul Medicine - May 14, 2025

After a particularly grueling work week—one filled with high emotions, grief waves, and my ever-persistent negative nelly voice—I knew I needed to reset. And for me, that reset always starts in nature. This time, I had a clear mission: find spring babies. I wanted to laugh at their antics, watch them interact with their moms, and just be near something gentle.

So I headed to a well-known urban park right in the heart of the city. It didn’t take long for the shift to begin.

When I stepped out of the car, I let out a deep sigh. The sun was shining, the wind was wild, and thankfully, there weren’t many people around. I took that as a good omen. I strolled into the park, camera ready, and the first animal I encountered was Pete the Peacock lounging in the shade beneath a tree. I snapped a quick photo and let him enjoy his nap undisturbed.

Then I saw them—goslings! Get ready for cuteness overload!

Just a week ago, they were tiny and bright yellow. Now they were bigger, fluffier, and covered in a mix of yellow, grey, and white down. Some napped in the shade, including one with its leg stretched out like a little starfish, which made me laugh out loud.

I stayed at a respectful distance and gently reminded a few nearby folks to do the same. Thank goodness for my 600mm lens—and my understanding of goose etiquette. I knew better than to crouch or appear too close to their babies. I moved even farther back and sat on a rock, simply watching.

Did you know 

Goslings feed primarily on grasses, aquatic plants, and sometimes bugs—but mostly love munching on dandelions and clover?

Did you know 

Canada Geese are fiercely protective parents—earning them the nickname "Cobra Chickens" thanks to their hissing defense posture?

And then, the goslings started following me. It was beyond adorable. They waddled right up, and I had to resist the very human urge to reach out. Their parents watched carefully but allowed the little ones their freedom. When a few off-leash dogs came too close (despite clear signage), the parents wisely ushered the whole crew into the pond. I sighed with relief—I didn’t want these gentle cobra chickens to get blamed for protecting their babies. I would’ve done the same.

I mean, come on, wouldn't you protect this face?

And this little tooshie....

In the pond, the goslings dunked, dove, and bobbed around like fuzzy little buoys. I caught a few classic gosling bum shots—my favorite.

There’s nothing quite like the sight of a gosling bum bobbing in the water—little feathered marshmallows doing synchronized snack dives like it’s an Olympic sport for fluffballs.  It was peaceful, funny, and beautiful all at once.

A Gentle Reminder: Respect the Fluff!

It’s baby boom season in our urban parks, and while the goslings and ducklings are undeniably adorable, it’s so important to remember that they’re wild animals—not photo props.

If you're photographing wildlife, especially babies, please keep a respectful distance. I use a 600mm lens (a 400mm works great too) so I can observe and capture moments without ever getting close. Crouching or approaching can stress out the parents and lead to defensive behavior, and that’s not fair to them—or safe for anyone.

No matter how cute, fluffy, or tempting it is: Give them space. Let them be wild.

And admire them in a way that keeps both you and the animals safe.

Just as I was soaking it all in, I heard it—the tiny peeping of ducklings! A mother mallard was guiding her fluffy crew across the water, but a nearby male chased her off (how rude!), separating her from her babies who floated nervously on a lilypad. A crowd started to gather, so I quietly moved to the other side of the pond where it was calm. Don't worry, the Mom came back quickly.

The lily pad cradled the duckling like it was made just for it—perfectly sized, perfectly balanced, like a nature-crafted nest for a soft-yolked egg with feet.

There it was—a tiny duckling butt perched proudly on a lily pad, and I swear, the sheer cuteness shot pure joy straight through my soul like a caffeine jolt from nature itself.

There, I was soon greeted by a few curious mallards and geese who walked over, clearly checking if I had any seed. I did. I always pay the toll for taking pictures even though I wasn't taken their photos. I wanted to keep them distracted.

With the adults preoccupied, I turned back to the pond just in time to see a mallard couple approach with their ducklings. I captured a few close-up portraits of the babies—so small and lightning fast.

Did you know 

Mallard ducklings can swim and feed themselves just hours after hatching, but they always stay close to mom for protection—and if they fall behind, they’ll paddle like tiny speedboats to catch up?

Each duckling looked like a tiny pom-pom dipped in espresso and sunshine, waddling around with the serious intensity of someone late for a meeting they forgot they scheduled.

Their expressions were a perfect mix of toddler mischief and old-man wisdom—like they knew all of life’s secrets but refused to share unless bribed with pond snacks.

Watching them paddle around in their mismatched outfits of fuzz and fluff made me feel like I was front-row at the cutest fashion show Mother Nature ever designed.

Eventually, I put the camera down and just… sat with them. I watched. I breathed. I thanked them all silently for letting me into their world for a little while. As I headed back to the car, I thought my adventure was done. But nature had one more gift for me: a handful of park squirrels—some friendly, some grumpy—all bursting with personality. I’ll be saving those encounters for an upcoming squirrel project. Stay tuned!

Today reminded me, once again, why I do this. Why I’m a wildlife photographer. Why I share these animal moments. Even just an hour in nature can help quiet my mind, soothe my grief, and bring me back to center. And the best part? I didn’t have to go far to find magic.

I’m endlessly grateful for that.