Morels, Ben Franklin, eagles, big walleye: Notes on Chicago outdoors

Notes and news from around the Chicago outdoors.

FIELD NOTES

MOREL OF THE WEEK

Ryan Fields had help finding morels in Will County from his daughter Emma “Laser Eyes” Fields. “The recipe of hard work, not quitting and having fun outside paid off with just not a bunch of treats but some memories that will last a long time,’’ he emailed.

WILD TIMES

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Wednesday, May 22: Palos Park dinner, Palos Country Club, Orland Park, Jim Mayer

(708) 557-1300

FISH GATHERING

Tuesday: Capt. Pat Harrison, “Fishing the Chicago River,” Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m., arlingtonanglers.com.

DALE’S MAILBAG

Q: “I grew across the street from an ancient apple orchard where half the trees were dead or dying. Always found morels around the stumps ... The weather has been most conducive for morels ... The fact that these pictures are just outside my back door is the shocking part. ... p.s. This has made me put down the weed killer indefinitely.” – Bruce Epperson

A: My one fear with foraging morels is pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.

BIG NUMBER

16-9: Pounds-ounces of the walleye, caught April 21 on the Heart River, denied the state record by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department because of being foul-hooked.

LAST WORD

“You may have seen [the bald eagle] perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.’’

Ben Franklin, in a letter to his daughter, in an excerpt by Jimmy Stamp in “American Myths: Benjamin Franklin’s Turkey and the Presidential Seal’” on smithsonianmag.com.