Big muskie, yellow-headed blackbird, asparagus: Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Emil Baumbach found the rare yellow-headed blackbird above in a marsh near Richmond. “If you’re hiking near a marsh and hear a noise similar to a rusty gate opening, stop and see if you can spot this impressive species,’’ he emailed.

WOTW, the celebration of wild scenes around Chicago outdoors, runs Sundays on the outdoors page as warranted. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).

MOREL OF THE WEEK

I will start running MOTW soon.

MOTW, the celebration of morels in spring around Chicago outdoors, runs Sundays on the outdoors page as warranted. Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).

WILD TIMES

FISH GATHERING

Monday: Capt. John “Rocky’’ Mannerino, Oswegoland Fishin’ Fools, Allied First Bank Building, Oswego, 7 p.m., fishinfools.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Friday: Naperville dinner, White Eagle Golf Club. Contact Steve Hoffman, hoffs60@gmail.com; Bill Lehman, bill@estemp.net; Steve Warning, tallgrass@att.net

RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY

Friday: T. Stanton Armour chapter’s banquet, Hilton Chicago/Northbrook, Northbrook. Contact Beth Burnson, (312) 330-7506 or rgsbanquet@gmail.com

WINGSHOOTING

May 14-15:Des Plains Conservation Area, Wilmington, (217) 785-8129

ILLINOIS SEASONS

Turkey hunting: Fourth season, north zone, through Wednesday; fifth season, north, begins Thursday; fifth season, south, ends Thursday

DALE’S MAILBAG

Text: “5 pounds today.’’ Tom Schiever on his asparagus photo

A: Seems early, but Schiever has become good at finding the delectable wild spears.

Maybe I need to do Forage of the Week.

BIG NUMBER

48: Inches of the biggest muskie surveyed this spring at Heidecke in the annual trap-net survey, according to biologist Rob Miller.

Actually, it is the biggest muskie ever surveyed at Heidecke.

LAST WORD

“Morel mushrooms are often found in locations where large fires occurred the previous year. Each spring we get calls from people who are seeking details on those sites to hunt morels. We’ve enhanced the features of this map to give our customers the information they are looking for in a mobile-friendly, easily accessible package.’’

Jim Fisher, resource protection manager for Michigan DNR Forest Resources Division, on Mi-Morels map