Event calendar

Where Feathers Meet the Flash Photo Contest

Event information

Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Fee: Free!

Age: All ages.

Contact: 815-722-9470

Location: McKinley Woods — Kerry Sheridan Grove


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An indigo bunting on a tree limb. Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock

Event details

This ongoing program runs from Wednesday, May 1, to Friday, May 31. Preserve hours are 8 a.m. to sunset.

Take part in the inaugural Four Rivers bird photography competition! Submit your picture of a migratory bird at McKinley Woods for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Cornell Lab Bird Academy and new bird-feeding supplies from Wild Birds Unlimited of Joliet. Winners will be selected in two age categories: adult (18 and older) and youth (17 and younger).

If you’re a new birder, challenge yourself to learn a new bird. If you’re a seasoned pro, challenge yourself to get the perfect photograph of a migratory bird. Visit Four Rivers Environmental Education Center to check out recent sightings and learn where you’ll have the best chance to find the bird you’re looking for.

Register your bird photo by scanning the QR code at the photo submission stations along the trails and in the visitor center for the duration of the contest. Complete contest rules are included on the submission form.

Event requirements

No registration required. 

This is an inclusive program, welcoming individuals of all abilities. Four Rivers is an accessible facility. Paved and natural surface trails are on uneven terrain. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service to participate in this program should submit a request online no later than 48 hours before the program.