Orioles, morels, wild young, boat spending, perch: Notes, Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

WILD OF THE WEEK

Dot Maginot captured the colorful shot above last Saturday of a pair of orioles in Woodridge.

Wild of the Week, the celebration of wild scenes and photos 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.

MOREL OF THE WEEK

Bill Peak was looking for a rare orchid in a northwest Indiana county park when he found a patch of 100 or so morels. “When you find that many, it is truly impressive,” he emailed.

Stuff like that is why I love when Peak drops his notes periodically.

Morel of the Week, the celebration of morel mushrooms and photos 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

“Can we fish in the river for perch from May 1 to June 15?” Donald Kolodziejczek

A: No, the Chicago River system and the Calumet River are also off-limits to perch fishing during the closure on the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan from May 1 to June 15.

BIG NUMBER

$39 billion: All-time high of total marine expenditures (spending on new boats, engines, trailers, accessories and services) in 2017, according to Chicago-based National Marine Manufacturers Association.

LAST WORD

“It is against the law to keep wild animals as pets, or to raise wild animals believed to have been abandoned.’’

Illinois Department of Natural Resources, in its annual reminder to leave baby wildlife alone. Click here for details.

WILD TIMES

ILLINOIS SEASONS/PERMITS

Through June 15: Perch fishing closure on Lake Michigan

June 30: Final day to apply, second lottery, firearm and muzzleloader deer seasons. Click here for more details.

HUNTER SAFETY

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

June 9-10: Hainesville, hsclass111@gmail.com

June 14 and 16: Newark, (815) 210-4995

WINGSHOOTING CLINIC

(Click here for the statewide list)

Saturday-Sunday: Des Plaines SFWA, Wilmington, (217) 524-5466

KIDS DERBY

Sunday: Lake Geneva Fishing Club’s 29th Kids Day, Bigfoot Beach State Park, Lake Geneva, Wis., 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

FREE FISHING DAYS

June 15-18: Illinois’ Free Fishing Days

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

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

DUCKS UNLIMITED

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

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

(Click here for general list of banquets and events)

PHEASANTS FOREVER

(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)