The Hardest-Working Paper in America | 
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Outdoors Sports

‘Quite staggering’ teal counts on Illinois River: Mississippi good, too, as Aaron Yetter’s blog restarts

Aaron Yetter’s blog restarts off the teal survey done on Wednesday that showed lots of teal around the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.

By  Dale Bowman
   
SHARE ‘Quite staggering’ teal counts on Illinois River: Mississippi good, too, as Aaron Yetter’s blog restarts
Some of the blue-winged teal surveyed Wednesday. Credit: Aaron Yetter/Illinois Natural History Survey

Some of the blue-winged teal surveyed Wednesday.

Credit: Aaron Yetter/Illinois Natural History Survey

Aaron Yetter restarts his blog with a very encouraging aerial survey for teal, just days before teal season opens on Saturday, Sept. 5, in Illinois.

Click herefor the listings of aerial surveys. Keep up with research updates and aerial surveys at the Forbes Biological Station Facebook page.

Here is Yetter’s latest blog:

September 3rd, 2020 – Aerial Waterfowl Inventory Blog We’re back in the air again. Actually, we’ve been at it for a month now counting shorebirds, but we completed the 1st teal flight of the year on Wednesday, September 2nd. There was an abundance of blue-winged teal (Spatula discors) along both rivers for the first week of September. We estimated 45,240 blue-wings along the Illinois River Valley (IRV), coming in at 139% above the 10-yr average. The central Mississippi River also had good numbers of blue-wings totaling 9,910 birds, 127% above average for the first week of September. Blue-wing numbers in the IRV were actually quite staggering. The 45,000+ birds witnessed this week was the 9th highest total in 72 years of surveys and will be the 5th highest peak count of blue-winged teal since 1948. Hopefully we will enjoy a great opening day of teal season beginning Saturday, September 5th. Be safe out there and enjoy the Labor Day weekend. For site specific information, please check out our webpageat www.bellrose.org. Stay tuned for more updates next week…….

Next Up In Outdoors
High hopes for Heidecke Lake fishing: Prospects look good for the season, despite a brutal opener
Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report: Hoping on a warm-up, coho, smallmouth, browns, steelhead
A little help from friends on bagging first spring gobbler leads to Turkey of the Week
An old favorite of the Chicago River, the common carp, still have ‘Big Shoulders’ downtown
Chicago outdoors: Frog sounds question, inquisitive mink, early hummingbird, big Shabbona walleye
Rare wild turkey sightings along lakefront come to a tragic end
The Latest
mayorsmeeting04-18-24StaceyGreeneFenlon1stchair.jpg
Outdoors
First woman chairs Chicago fishing advisory committee
Stacey Greene-Fenlon became the first woman and first person not connected to Chicago government to chair the Chicago fishing advisory committee on Thursday.
By Dale Bowman
 
Drinks That Do More. A can of Celsius, a fitness drink that is supposed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat, is shown on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in New York. The frenzy of functional beverages – drinks designed to do more than just taste good or hydrate - has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Eat Well
With 'functional' beverages, brands rush to quench a thirst for drinks that do more than just taste good
Nutritionists say the general trend of consumers seeking out healthier beverages is a good one. But experts also say people should be cautious and read ingredient labels.
By Associated Press
 
BLUESCLUB-041624 1.jpg
Music
After years of delays, Lee's Unleaded Blues reopening and vowing to celebrate musicmakers and the community
The beloved South Side blues club will kick off its long-awaited return with two shows featuring John Primer and the Real Deal.
By Erica Thompson
 
Quarterback Caleb Williams, wearing a T-shirt with SC and 13 printed on it, raises his arm, football in hand, preparing to throw.
Other Views
NFL draft day: How teams legally collude to restrict draftees' rights and choices
Sports leagues benefit from two technical points that allow collusion.
By Eldon Ham
 
SOLDIERFIELD-031224-09.jpeg
Bears
Bears to reveal how they want to pay for a domed lakefront stadium — and what it will look like
Just a day before the Bears are expected to use the first pick in the NFL draft to draft quarterback-of-the-future Caleb Williams, the team will announce their plans for a state-of-the-art, publicly-owned stadium on the lakefront. The plans, according to the team, will include “additional green and open space with access to the lakefront for families and fans on the Museum Campus.”
By Fran Spielman