Notes from around Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
WILD OF THE WEEK
Using a Nikon D750 and Sigma 150-500mm lens, Peter Ponzio captured a series of brilliant shots on his fourth annual trip to LeClaire Iowa at Lock and Dam 14, including the one above.
“I’m beginning to recognize a number of the birds and to anticipate some of their movements and behaviors,” he emailed.
That is just cool.
WOTW, the celebration of wild scenes around Chicago outdoors, runs as warranted on Sundays on the Sun-Times outdoors page. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email straycasts@sbcglobal.net.
DALE’S MAILBAG
“The red-winged blackbirds are back at Bartel [Grassland]. Along with hundreds of brown headed cowbirds, eww ick.”
Georgiana Dodd email on Feb. 15
A: It seems early, but red-wings arrived all over. Two days earlier, wildlife biologist Bob Massey messaged that they were at the Des Plaines Game Propagation Center. Cowbirds lay eggs in the nests of other birds.
BIG NUMBER
41 inches: Length of Chinook surveyed in 2018 by the Illinois DNR. The 29 1/2-pound king was the longest ever surveyed by the IDNR.
LAST WORD
“The high water mark, essentially the edge of the beach, is defined as the line on the shore established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics, such as a clear and natural line on the bank, shelving or changes in the soil’s character. Within that area, individuals are entitled to access the water for the traditional purposes of navigation, commerce or fishing, according to the ruling.”
Dan Carden, author of a Northwest Indiana Times article on the U.S. Supreme Court letting stand the 4-0 decision Indiana Supreme Court made a year ago.
WILD TIMES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION
Saturday: South Suburban banquet, Glenwood Oaks Rib and Chop House Glenwood, tickets at events.rmef.org/shop/midewinelk1. Contact Jim Adams (708) 288-1358 or Cindy Gustafson (708) 768-4315.
FISH GATHERING
Wednesday: Korey Sprengel on “`Using Electronics to Improve Your Catching Success,” Walleyes Unlimited, Gurnee American Legion, 7 p.m.
ICE FISHING
Saturday, March 2: Rescheduled LVVA Ice Fishing Derby, Bangs Lake, Wauconda
SHOWTIME
(Click here for the list of shows, classes and seminars)
Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 3: Northern Illinois Boat Show, New Lake County Fair Grounds, Grayslake
Saturday, March 2: Indoor Fishing Flea Market, Rolling Meadows High School
Saturday, March 2: Illinois Smallmouth Alliance’s Bronzeback Blowout, Elmhurst American Legion
Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3: Elmwood All Outdoors Show, Elmwood Community Schools
PHEASANTS FOREVER
(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)
Friday: Tallgrass banquet, Orland Chateau, Orlad Park, PFTallgrass@gmail.com
Saturday: South Cook banquet, Lansing Knights of Columbus, click here for info
DUCKS UNLIMITED
(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)
Friday: Central Kane dinner, Riverside Banquets, Geneva. Contact Bob Walker, (630) 234-8497 or Phil Eggen, (815) 482-3999
HUNTER SAFETY
(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)
March 9-10: Bridgeview, (708) 594-1818 . . . Dyer, Ind., (219) 515-2197
March 28 and 30: Chicago Heights, ducks56@comcast.net
March 30-31: Chicago (taught in Polish), (630) 479-0708
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
(Click here for general list of banquets and events)
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
(Click here for full listings of classes in the area)
