Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Jerry Bayne’s trail camera in Williamson County in southern Illinois caught several photos of massive flocks of blackbirds and red-winged blackbirds. “We usually get a few near pictures, I will try to send them as I remember,” he emailed. I’m glad because I love shots like that.
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 Sunday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside).
DALE’S MAILBAG
“The wife and I spotted two pileated woodpeckers, along the Sag Valley Trail (Yellow Trail) near Swallow Cliffs [on Jan. 25]. . . . They were in the forested area, east of 104th Avenue, south of the Yellow Trail and a short distance east of Teason’s Woods parking lot in Palos Hills. Several years ago, we took our young kids to this same general area in spring, after reading about a reported sighting in your column. We struck out back then, but hit the jackpot today. They were LOUD!!! We heard them calling briefly and then hammering to no end.” Dan McNally
A: Pileateds, one of my favorites, are very loud, but also very striking with their black and white bodies and big brilliantly red crests.
WILD TIMES
FISH GATHERING
Thursday, Feb. 6: “An Evening with Steve Herbeck,” Midwest Musky Club, Village Sportsmen’s Bar, Alsip, 7 p.m., www.midwestmuskyclub.com
SHOWTIME
Through Sunday, Feb. 2: All-Canada Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
Through Sunday, Feb. 2: LVVA Ice Fishing Derby, Bangs Lake, Wauconda
Through Sunday, Feb. 2: Rockford Boat, Vacation & Fishing Show, Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park
Through Sunday, Feb. 2: Captain Dan Keating Salmon Schools, Lake Michigan Angler, Winthrop Harbor
Through Sunday, Feb. 2: Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
Sunday, Feb. 1: Midwest Musky Club Fishing & Outdoor Show, Village Sportsman’s Club, Alsip, vendor table and show info, Larry Downes, (630) 302-0759 or larry@riotracing.com
Sunday, Feb. 1: Island Lake Lions Club Ice Fishing Derby, Island Lake, headquartered at Eastway Park
Next Saturday, Feb. 8: DRiFT Fly Fishing Auction, Villa Park VFW
Next Sunday, Feb. 9: Henry Decoy Show, Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe
HUNTER SAFETY
Next weekend, Feb. 8-9: Wilmington, https://islandparkdistrict.activityreg.com/selectactivity_t2.wcs
March 8-9: Bridgeview, https://bridgeviewparkdistrict.activityreg.com/ClientPage_t2.wcs or (708) 594-1818.
March 15-16: Diamond, sign up at Diamond Indoor Trap Range
The full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Tuesday, Feb. 4: Boat America, Des Plaines, Jerry Miarecki, boatsafe@coastguardchicago.com