CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago birding community is devastated by the death of Monty, the piping plover that captivated many after becoming the first plover, along with his mate, Rose, to nest in Chicago in decades.
Monty and Rose became the first piping plovers to nest in Chicago in 71 years in 2019. Since that time, a community has grown up around the birds. Tamima Itani is the coordinator of the volunteers watching over the birds in Montrose beach.
"What we know is what was observed by piping plover monitor Daniella Herrera," she said.
"She spotted Monty. He was only 25 feet from where she was she noticed that he was sitting and gasping, She then saw him get up, make a few steps and collapse and then he was gone."
Monty's mate, Rose, has not been seen this spring.
Jeff Skretny with the Chicago Ornithological Society, shared the last photo he took of Monty on May 8 in a facebook post and wrote that he and Rose made Chicago a better city.
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