Chicago outdoors: Record smallmouth-largemouth, mausoleum vultures, high blue jay, Patrick McManus quote

The IGFA’s new world record for a smallmouth-largemouth hybrid, vultures on a mausoleum, a blue jay up high at Northwestern Hospital and a Patrick McManus fishing quote are among the notes from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.

Turkey vultures at a mausoleum at Rosehill Cemetery. Credit: Richard “Tup” Tupper

Turkey vultures at a mausoleum at Rosehill Cemetery.

Richard “Tup” Tupper

WILD OF THE WEEK

Notes come from all around Chicago outdoors and beyond.

DALE’S MAILBAG

“[Saw these] perched on a family-sized mausoleum in Rosehill Cemetery. I wish I had a better camera I often see folks with professional looking cameras at Rosehill.” Richard Tupper, better known as “Tup,” same as generations before him

A: OK, maybe I am twisted, but I just find it delightful to see turkey vultures perched on a mausoleum.

WILD OF THE WEEK

A blue jay visiting Northwestern. Credit: Tim Mallers

A blue jay visiting Northwestern.

Tim Mallers

Tim Mallers, a nurse at Northwestern, noticed this blue jay outside his window on the 19th floor of Lavin Pavilion. That’s the proper way to look out a window.

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. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

Next Saturday, June 5, and June 6: Morris, (815) 341-4001

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Tuesday, June 1: Boat America, Skokie, Dan O’Connell, cgaux.doc@gmail.com

Next Saturday, June 5: SSS-Weather and Boating, Skokie, Dan O’Connell, cgaux.doc@gmail.com

WINGSHOOTING CLINICS

Next Saturday, June 5, and 6: Des Plaines Conservation Area, Wilmington, (815)423-5326. More on clinics at illinois.gov/dnr/recreation/wingshooting/Pages/WingshootingSchedule.aspx

BIG NUMBER

7-9: Pounds-ounces of the word record largemouth-smallmouth bass hybrid, just recognized by the International Game Fish Association. Wyatt Frankens caught it March 1 for O.H. Ivie Reservoir in Texas.

LAST WORD

“Scholars have long known that fishing eventually turns men into philosophers. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy decent tackle on a philosopher’s salary.”

Patrick McManus, via azquotes.com., on p. 20 of “Never Sniff a Gift Fish”

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