Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Martha Brynda photographed a pair of geese with 24 goslings at Nippersink Forest Preserve in Round Lake, then wondered, “Could this be the product of one or two pairs, or do they take turns babysitting for the flock?” I noticed the same thing over the years, so asked Roy Domazlicky, northern regional wildlife biologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
“It’s due to a phenomenon called brood mixing,” Domazlicky emailed. “Canada goose parents do not recognize their own young, so broods can get mixed up when multiple pairs occupy the same pond or other habitat. The parents will take care of whatever young are with them. This happens commonly, especially when the young are of similar size. So when you see a pair of geese with 20 or 30 young, they are not all theirs. It’s biologically impossible to lay that many eggs.”
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).
WATER RIGHTS
Oak Brook Trout Unlimited hosts Drew Kazenski, co-chair of the Illinois chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, on HB1873 and the Illinois waterway laws, on Wednesday, May 21, at the Central Park West building, 1500 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook. Doors open at 6 p.m., speaker at 7. You can also access the Zoom meeting at 7 p.m.. Meeting ID: 847 6765 2674. Passcode: 717730.
WILD TIMES
FISHING COMMITTEE
Thursday, May 22: Chicago Fishing advisory Committee meeting, 31st Street Harbor Community room, 10 a.m., email chicagofishingadvisory@gmail.com with questions.
FISH GATHERINGS
Tuesday, May 20: Capt. Joe Baron, Rod and Pan Guide Service, “Fishing the Fox Chain/Perfecting your Fish Fry,” Arlington Anglers, Poplar Creek Banquets, Hoffman Estates, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 21: Ken “Husker” O’Malley of Huskers Outdoors, “Spring Tactics for Bass and Panfish,” South Side Muskie Hawks, Village Sportsmen’s Club, Alsip, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 21: Jim O’Neil, Midwest Outdoors, “Plastics for Walleye,” Libertyville Fishing Club, Libertyville Township Center, 359 Merrill Court, Libertyville, 7 p.m.
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Wednesday, May 21: Palos Park banquet, Orland Chateau, Orland Park, palosdu19@gmail.com
Thursday, May 22: Naperville Gun Bingo, Naperville VFW
FIRST TIME FISHING
Friday, May 23: Hidden Lakes Trout Farm, Bolingbrook, basics of fishing with an instructor, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 8 and older, $5, register by Thursday, May 22, 815-722-4121
HUNTER SAFETY
May 31-June 1: Morris, Call Earl at (815) 693-8344June 7-8:Wilmington, https://islandparkdistrict.activityreg.com/
The full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty