Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors.
WILD OF THE WEEK
“I’ve never gotten close enough to get a picture of this bird when I vacation up in Michigan,” Paul Vriend emailed. “So, I thought it was convenient when this turkey vulture landed on a tree overlooking Rosehill Cemetery on Balmoral Avenue.”
WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).
WILD TIMES
HUNTER SAFETY
June 4 and 6: Newark, (815) 210-4995
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
Turkey hunting: North zone, fourth season, through Wednesday, May 6; fifth (final), Thursday, May 7, to May 14; south, fifth (final), through Thursday, May 7.
DALE’S MAILBAG
“Do you have any news/info on fish stocking for this year? The scuttlebutt is that there will be no stocking.” Zachary Arnold
A: Good question and Illinois fisheries chief Mike McClelland had a good answer, “We do plan to conduct the general fish stockings this year. Our hatchery production staff are working on site, while practicing social-distancing procedures, to keep fish alive and well at all three locations to continue fish production for 2020.”
BIG NUMBER
1972: First year of the Illinois Spring Bird Count, started by Vern Kleen (thanks to a blog by Chicago Audubon Society’s Alan Anderson); this year’s count will go on May 9, but, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new line has been added by the Illinois Audubon Society for those “birding from a `House’ or `Nearby.’ “
LAST WORD
“Additionally, I will now offer Virtual Lowrance on the Water Training sessions where I will no longer be restricted by a clients location or have to worry about social distancing.”
Mark O’Neill, adjusting to the times and now offering sessions via Zoom, details at Structure-Fishing.com
