Naperville Man Wins Monthly Will County Forest Preserve Photo Contest

NAPERVILLE, IL — A Naperville man captured a breathtaking photo of an eagle taking flight that made him one of the winners of the Forest Preserve District of Will County's "Preserve the Moment" photo contest for December.

The photo was taken at McKinley Woods Forest Preserve in Channahon and was among five photos voted on by fans of the forest preserve district's Facebook page. The other finalists were Greg Winkelmann of Romeoville, Carlos Molano of Chicago.

Leclercq told the Will County Forest Preserve he enjoys taking walks through the forest preserves with his camera when he's not working as a chef.

"I feel truly connected with nature in these beautiful preserves, in particular McKinley Woods – Frederick's Grove where I took this photo," Leclercq said in a statement.

He added, "The wildlife in this preserve is truly amazing and rich, and perfect for great photo opportunities: bald eagles, pileated woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers, and so many more rare bird species."

Leclercq also won the forest preserve district's photo contest in 2020, with a captivating photo of a praying mantis he snapped at Riverview Farmstead Preserve.

The "Preserve the Moment" contest kicked off in May and has featured a winning image each month. Each winner gets a gift and a $75 Visa gift card. A final winner will be announced at the end of December.