Northern shrike, perch, Ducks Unlimited dollars: Notes around Chicago outdoors

By Dale Bowman

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Dr. Elizabeth Pector found her northern shrike on Feb. 26 at Springbrook Prairie in Naperville. “I haven’t seen one for three years and I’ve spent many hours since November trying to track one down, and discovered many interesting new forest preserves in the process,’’ she emailed. Speaking of interesting, google northern shrikes, whose Latin name means “butcher watchman.’’

Wild of the Week, the celebration of the wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs when 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

Q: “If someone wanted to open a tackle store, where do you think would be the best spot or what area needs one?’’ Jeff Baffa

A: I assumed Baffa meant a bait/tackle store and said LaSalle Lake, which desperately needs a full-service shop and shuttle service. I would love to hear other suggestions.

LAST WORD

“How long can a perch live?’’ “Until somebody catches it.’’

Steve Robillard, Lake Michigan Program biologist, answering a question Tuesday during the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant “Lake Michigan Workshop’’ at North Point Marina; Robillard’s workmate Dan Makauskas said they have aged perch to 21 years.

BIG NUMBER

3: Chairman’s Elite designation by Ducks Unlimited for chapters that raise at least $1 million in grassroots income for DU’s conservation mission. That includes once again the West Suburban chapter out of LaGrange.

WILD TIMES

ILLINOIS SEASONS

Saturday-Sunday: Second statewide youth turkey hunt

Saturday: Inland trout season opens

FISH GATHERING

Monday: Discussion of Braidwood and Clinton lakes, Oswegoland Fishin’ Fools, Allied First Bank, Oswego, 7 p.m., click here for details.

HUNTER SAFETY

(Click here for full package of northeast Illinois hunter safety classes)

April 14-15: Ingleside, go.fishfry@gmail.com.

April 26 and 28: Chicago Heights, ducks56@comcast.net. . . . Newark, (815) 210-4995.

May 4-5: Zion, hunterssafety@5starfirearms.com.

FISHING SEMINAR

Saturday: Spring Fishing Seminar fundraiser to benefit veteran medical programs, Capt. Bob Bachler, Capt. Pat Harrison, Jim “Crappie Professor’’ Kopjo, Joshua W. Harris Memorial VFW Post, Brookfield, $15, doors open 9 a.m., (708) 485-9670

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

(Click here for general list of banquets and events)

Saturday: Will County Cutters banquet, Beecher Amvets Hall. Click here for info or contact Troy Claus, (708) 946-3537.

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILLIARY

(Click here for full package of classes in the area)

Saturday: About Boating Safely, Chicago, Dan O’Connell, doc731@yahoo.com.

Saturday: Weekend navigator,Waukegan, Curt Schumacher, publiceducation41.5@gmail.com.

Saturday: About Boating Safely, Wauconda, Winston Tumaneng, classes@uscgafoxlake.com.

SHOWTIME

(Click here for the complete list of shows for the year)

DUCKS UNLIMITED

(Click here for the general list of Illinois DU events)