Notes come from all over Chicago outdoors.
FIELD NOTES
WILD OF THE WEEK
Mike Lewandowski of Lew Shots Photography caught this great horned owl and owlet at a rookery in Highland, Ind.
WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERINGS
Note: The Challunge on the Chain, by the Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies, Inc., has been postponed until Sept. 20. Click here for details.
ILLINOIS PERMITS/SEASONS
May 14, Thursday: Final day, fifth and final turkey season, north zone.
DALE’S MAILBAG
“Just got back from my midday bike ride. Captured this bird on camera. Either a new species, some sort of inbreeding experiment or a robin that was doused with bleach or paint.” Tom Turek, Bridgeview
A: I was intrigued enough to ask Chicago Audubon Society’s Alan Anderson, who indicated it was a partial albino. “Happens in many species,” he replied. “At least two birders have posted photos of similar looking birds (can’t remember which species but one was a robin ) on the various local Facebook birding groups this year.” He also passed along a good source for common oddities at feederwatch.org/learn/unusual-birds/
BIG NUMBER
7-3.12: Pounds-ounces of the Illinois-record spotted bass, caught March 15, 1992 from a Fulton County strip pit by Richard Leonard.
LAST WORD
“The minute I get the word and see I can legally do it, it will be the biggest comeback in Chicago fishing.”
A Chicago-area charter captain, on what will happen when the go-ahead comes to start working again
