Chicago outdoors: Gaping maws of robins, a Calumet bowfin and Park Ridge monarchs

Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Vickie O'Malley captured good photos of the robin nest in their backyard birch tree in the south suburbs, emailed her husband Ken "Husker" O'Malley. Every one considering becoming a parent should carefully view the photo

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).

FISH OF THE WEEK

Jim Hall caught a serious surprise over the July 4th weekend on Lake Calumet when an 8-pound bowfin hit his 3D printed topwater lure. He was bass fishing with his son Tommy. "We were catching some bass here and there, [then] when I threw the 3D printed lure up close to the shoreline and this bowfin had an epic strike . . . actually three different strikes before he actually ate it. The first strike it missed the bait. I threw back in there and it tried to eat it again and missed, I let the bait sit there and I twitched it again and it absolutely annihilated the lure." Tommy netted it. After photos, it was released for someone else to catch. Bowfin, also commonly called dogfish, come from an ancient line of fish.

FOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, now runs most weeks in the 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

"I have had more monarchs [butterflies] in and about my garden in the last few weeks than I've had in years. They are actively laying eggs on the milkweed. . . . I'm happy to see them and I'm glad all the work I've done planting natives and adding milkweed to my garden is paying off. Right now I have half a dozen caterpillars in a screened enclosure I made and I'm sure there are many more in the garden. Last year I had one." Jeff Getz in Park Ridge

A: I had the opposite experience to Getz, only spotting my first monarch Tuesday while volunteering at a prairie.

WILD TIMES

RIVER TALK

Thursday, July 24: Marla Garrison, director of the Liebman Institute for Science Innovation, "Ecology & Conservation of Illinois Dragonflies," Happy Hour Speaker Series, McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, free, 5:15-6:15 p.m.

ILLINOIS BLIND DRAWS

Details at https://dnr.illinois.gov/press-release.31386.html

Saturday, July 26: Draws for northern Illinois/Chicago area waterfowl blinds, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Next Sunday, July 27: Draws for Downstate and Illinois River waterfowl blinds,

WINGSHOOTING

Aug. 16 & 17 (three separate sessions): Waterman, email hunterwsclinic@gmail.com to register.

HUNTER SAFETY

Aug. 9-10: Morris, https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/230848

Aug 14 and 16: Bonfield, (847) 635-3198

Aug. 23-24: Wilmington, https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/230303

The full state listing is at dnr2.illinois.gov/SafetyEd/SafetyEdClassByCounty