Bald eagle in Chicago, buck holding antlers, perch hope: Notes, Chicago outdoors

Notes from around Chicago outdoors. I juggled the usual outlet this week to match the lead photo.

FIELD NOTES

LAST WORD

‘‘Kind of nice I can come up here and give some good news [on yellow perch]. Things are looking up. That is the takeaway message.’’

— Steve Robillard, Lake Michigan Program fisheries biologist, noting the impact of the 2015 class of perch Tuesday at the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Lake Michigan Workshop.

BIG NUMBER

78.4

Percent of release rate of yellow perch in 2017, according to surveys by the Illinois Natural History Survey. ‘‘Sign of a lot of small fish out there, potentially a good sign,’’ INHS’ Charlie Roswell said.

BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGED

Bill Przybylski photographed the drop-tine buck above on Tuesday in Cook County. I asked Illinois deer-program manager Tom Micetich if drop tines are a factor in holding antlers late. He replied: ‘‘Drop tine would have nothing to do with antler retention. Antler drop is tied to declining testosterone levels after the breeding season.’’

Buck of the Week: Unplugged, the celebration of the stories and photos of live big bucks around Chicago outdoors, run when 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

Q: ‘‘A few weeks ago, I was in Portage Park in Chicago and saw this big bird north of the park. Looking further, I swear it was a bald eagle. Have you heard of any other spottings on the Northwest Side? If it was, it was the first time this 60-year-old ever saw one in the city!’’ — Jon Schultz

A: There have been eagle sightings on the North Side, even on the lakefront. Schultz replied: ‘‘I guess I’ll have to keep looking up! Not bad words to live by.’’ Yes.

WILD TIMES

FISHING DERBY

Saturday: Henry’s Spring Coho Derby at Navy Pier, free. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., with fishing from 7 to 11 a.m. Parking is $7. Call (312) 225-8538.

WORKSHOP

Tuesday: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s second Illinois ‘‘Lake Michigan Fisheries Workshop,’’ 6 to 8:30 p.m., North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, facebook.com/ILINseagrant.

FISH GATHERING

Tuesday: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Lake Michigan Fisheries Workshop, 6 to 8:30 p.m., North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, click here for details

ILLINOIS SEASONS

Saturday–next Sunday: First statewide spring youth turkey hunt. Click here for details.

HUNTER SAFETY

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

April 14-15: Ingleside, go.fishfry@gmail.com.

April 26 and 28: Chicago Heights, ducks56@comcast.net. . . . Newark, (815) 210-4995.

TREE COURSE

April 7: Deadline for registering for Openlands TreeKeeper certification course, at Washington Park fieldhouse on Thursdays and Sundays from April 8-May 3. Cost is $128. Enroll at www.openlands.org/treekeepers

SHOWTIME

(Click here for the complete list of shows for the year)

PHEASANTS FOREVER

(Click here for general list of Illinois PF events)

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

(Click here for general list of banquets and events)

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILLIARY

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

DUCKS UNLIMITED

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