Show Us Your Qwoks!

Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Photo Contest

Enter by August 31, 2026

Have you spotted a Black-crowned Night Heron in the Chicago region? Now is your chance to share your favorite Qwok moments!

From curious juveniles finding their way in the world to adults fishing along the shoreline, from quiet portraits to unexpected city encounters, we want to see the photos that capture the beauty, personality, and wild spirit of Chicago’s Black-crowned Night Herons.

Whether you’re a longtime bird photographer or simply happened to notice a Black-crowned Night Heron on your neighborhood walk, we’d love to see your Qwoks!

Contest Scope

Photos submitted to the Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Photo Contest must be taken in the greater Chicago region, including Chicago and surrounding communities in northeastern Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southeast Wisconsin.

This regional scope reflects the movements of Black-crowned Night Herons from the Lincoln Park Zoo rookery, whose foraging and seasonal movements extend beyond city boundaries. The contest celebrates Chicago’s herons while recognizing that their conservation story connects communities across the broader region.

How to Enter

Submit your favorite photo of a Black-crowned Night Heron using the entry form. Please submit one photo per entry.

Photo Requirements

Photos must:

Be your original work and taken within the greater Chicago region.
Feature one or more Black-crowned Night Herons.
Be lightly edited only (cropping, exposure, and color adjustments).
Be taken without disturbing birds, nests, or other wildlife.
Not contain watermarks, borders, signatures, or other identifying marks.
Not have been previously published or featured outside of personal social media accounts, personal websites, or blogs.

Photos from any year may be submitted. If you don’t remember the exact date a photo was taken, you may still submit it.

Entry Limit

You may enter up to five photos, one per category.

Each photographer is eligible to receive one category award and may also receive the Judges’ Choice Award.

Photo Categories

📸 Best Qwok Portrait
A close-up or portrait that shows the character, details, and personality of a Black-crowned Night Heron.

🪶 Juvenile Jamboree
Celebrate the next generation! Share your favorite photo of a young Black-crowned Night Heron exploring, learning, or showing off.

🏙️ Chicago Heron Life
Show us a Black-crowned Night Heron in its urban home—parks, lagoons, rivers, rooftops, shorelines, or other city and regional landscapes.

🎣 Qwok Action
Fishing, flying, calling, stretching, or any moment that captures the energy and drama of Black-crowned Night Heron life.

🎨 Most Creative Qwok
A unique perspective, artistic composition, or unexpected image that helps others see these birds in a new way.

✨ Judges’ Choice
A special recognition selected by the judging panel for a photo that captures a memorable moment, a unique perspective, or a meaningful connection with Chicago’s Black-crowned Night Herons.

Judging

Photos will be reviewed through blind judging by a panel of Chicago photographers, artists, birders, conservationists, and wildlife experts.

Judges will consider:

Creativity and originality
Composition
Storytelling
Connection to the spirit of Chicago’s Black-crowned Night Herons

Prizes

🌟 Category Awards
One winner will be selected in each photo category. Each category winner will receive a signed, framed Black-crowned Night Heron art print.

✨ Judges’ Choice Award
Selected by the judging panel as a standout photograph that captures a memorable moment, a unique perspective, or a meaningful connection with Chicago’s Black-crowned Night Herons. The Judges’ Choice winner will receive a Chicago BCNH Project T-shirt and hat.

Copyright, Photo Use & Email Updates

Photographers keep ownership of their photos and must have the right to submit them.

By entering, photographers give the Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project permission to share submitted photos with credit for contest, outreach, education, and promotional purposes.

By providing your email, you’ll receive contest news and Project updates. You can unsubscribe anytime using the link in any email.

Important Dates

Contest Opens: August 1, 2026
Entry Deadline: August 31, 2026
Winners Announced: By September 15, 2026

Not entering a photo?

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Ready to Enter?

Submit your photo entry.