Lemont Man Wins Will County Forest Preserve's June Photo Contest

LEMONT, IL — A Lemont man was the winner of the June portion of the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Preserve the Moment photo contest. The preserve said the photo of a red-tailed hawk was shot by Robert Schwaan at Veterans Woods in Romeoville.

According to the preserve, the judges were impressed with how the photo captured the bird's piercing gaze and ruffled feathers, as well as the play of light through the leaves behind it.

Schwaan said he was expecting to see songbirds at Veterans Woods during his photography exploration.

"To my surprise, I saw two juvenile red-tailed hawks frolicking about on the ground at the woodland's edge. Some movement low on an oak tree caught the attention of the hawks. They both flew to positions on oak tree branches on each side of a gray squirrel below. I watched for several minutes as both hawks observed their prey."

Schwaan said in a release he wondered if the hawks were "competing or collaborating." But he would never find out because as both hawks assumed a "strike position," the squirrel jumped to the ground and hid under some brush and the hawks flew away in separate directions. But the wildlife memory – and photo – were recorded by Schwaan, who loves his outdoor adventures.
Schwaan said he has been visiting the preserves since the 1990s.

"Due to land acquisitions and trail improvements by the district over the years, I have been able to increase the frequency of my many excellent adventures involving fishing, canoeing, bicycling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking and, of course, photography."

Schwaan said in a release that he organizes outdoor excursions for his friends, family and hiking clubs, so winning the June portion of the photo contest can only improve his "trail cred."

All of the contest's photo entries can be viewed on the District's Flickr page. The preserve said Schwaan’s photo will compete with eight other monthly finalists for overall honors after the contest concludes on Dec. 31.