30 August 2024
Piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) are exceedingly rare, especially in the Great Lakes where there are only about 80 pairs.
Just five years ago, in 2019, the first documented piping plover pair nested in Chicago at Montrose Beach. Monty and Rose became celebrities as they raised young three years in a row before dying in 2022.
One of their sons, Imani born in 2021, returned to Montrose in 2022 and 2023 but he had no mate because there were so few females in the Great Lakes region.
In July 2023 three piping plover chicks were released at Montrose and this spring one of the females, Searocket, became Imani’s mate.
Imani has been a good father. Here he calls to his chicks in an Instagram video, urging them to shelter under him while it’s raining.
One of their four chicks survived and was banded in late July with the name Nagamo, a native Objiwe name.
Fingers crossed that this cutie returns next April.
What a sweet, wonderful and hopeful post, Kate!! Thank you. Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!