MEMBER CORNER
Welcome to the DBC Photo Gallery
The photo gallery features photo contests, photographs from DBC birders, and photos of club members at our special events and in the field.
Photo Contests
About DBC Photo Contests
The Club periodically runs photo contests so check here for opportunities to showcase your images and see winning entries from prior contests. We encourage members to post their bird images to DBC social sites, accessible at https://dupagebirding.org/social-media/. Please note that you must have a Flickr account to post to the Club’s Flickr group.
Winter/Spring 2026 Photo Contest Now Open!
The DBC’s Photo Contest has changed from four times per year to two contests each year and is now looking for pictures of birds taken between January 1, 2026, and June 30, 2026. All photos are welcome: amateur, funny, imperfect, high-quality. The “story behind the shot” is taken into account when judging. The judges want this to be a fun contest so no categories have been predefined—every entry has a chance to win!
Note: the judges* ask that you limit the number of photos you enter to five or less. They usually do not give out more than one award to the same photographer if they submit multiple images.
The contest is open to DBC members only. Photos may be taken anywhere (not just DuPage/Illinois). If a picture includes people, the submitter must have permission from those people to publish their image on the DBC website.
- Photographs will be judged by a small team of DBC members.
- Good luck! Winners will be announced in the August Drummings.
There are two ways to enter your photographs:
1) If you have a Google Account (you have one if you use Gmail) click the link below:
DBC Photo Contest Entry Form
2) If you do not have a Google Account, email your image as an email attachment to dupagebirdingclub@gmail.com. In the body of your email include:
- a) Your name.
- b) The species of the bird(s).
- c) Where the picture was taken.
- d) A Catchy Caption - Enter a caption or title you would like displayed with your pictures. (Optional)
- e) Narrative - Tell us about your picture - what's the story behind the shot? Include any information the judges might need to fully appreciate your shot.
* We’re always looking for more Photo Contest Judges. If you might be interested, email Mike Warner at mwarner2543@gmail.com. No experience necessary!
Announcing DBC’s Summer/Fall 2025 Photography Contest Winners!
The winners of DBC’s Summer/Fall ‘25 photo contest have been finalized! The entries were judged by Andie Duffy, Robert Perez, Steve Constantelos, and Mike Warner. The committee would like to thank all the photographers for their entries. It was very difficult to narrow it down from 29 entries to these award winners.
Photo Contest Archives
DBC Event Photos
DBC Magee Trip Report 2026
Eighteen DBCers caravanned to Port Clinton, Ohio, May 7-10, for the annual warbler spectacle that occurs as many thousands of migrants arrive on the shores of Lake Erie—as well as many thousands of birders who come for the birds and to enjoy the Biggest Week in American Birding festival. The team had 131 species, including highlights like the Harris’s Sparrow, Black-billed Cuckoo, and a ridiculous 163 Trumpeter Swans! A shout out to Sherry Courtney for organizing the excursion and to DBC President Matt Crisler for his skilled leadership. Enjoy the two trip reports below.
From Sherry Courtney:
Driving towards Toledo. It has been raining all the way. The only good thing is that we see a complete rainbow. And that was only the beginning of our 3-day DBC trip to Magee Marsh for the Biggest Week In American Birding. 18 members, 24 checklists, and 131 species later, we were tired, sad to leave, and so grateful to have had the chance to have amazingly long and close-up looks at birds we've rarely seen, with old and new friends, and an incredible leader.
The highlights included finding the Franklin’s Gull next to Caspian, Common, and Forster’s terns all standing together, prompting Matt to give us an impromptu tern ID talk. Sitting out an evening thunderstorm in our cars, only to emerge into the beautiful sunlight, fresh air, and back onto the boardwalk where we had a long, close look at the elusive Sora. Seeing a Snowy Egret. Spotting a Sandhill Crane couple, and then the emergence of 2 colts! Seeing the Black-billed Cuckoo. Really great ice cream! A few years ago, Trumpeter Swans were almost extinct. We saw over 100+ in one day!!
From Franklin Chow:
A funny and only-at-Magee Marsh experience: We had just finished a whole day of birding at the boardwalk. Highlights were a Bay-breasted Warbler and a Harris’s Sparrow. We were exhausted and ready to leave.
To our surprise, we found the Harris’s Sparrow was underneath our car. There was a crowd of photographers taking pictures of the sparrow. Naturally we couldn’t get into our car. For almost ten minutes the Harris’s Sparrow held our car hostage.
Thank you, magical boardwalk! Thank you, Matt Crisler for being our outstanding leader!
