Offspring of Monty and Rose spotted at Montrose Beach, but for how long?

Ladies and gentlemen: Imani, the piping plover Photo credit Tamima Itani

By Steve Miller

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The birding community in Chicago is savoring the news about the appearance of a piping plover at Montrose Beach just over a week after the death of another.

The news came Monday morning to Tamima Itani, the lead volunteer coordinator who has watched over the plovers at Montrose.

“I think everybody needed a bit of good news,” Itani says referring to word earlier this month that Monty the piping plover had died.

Monty’s and Rose’s chick Imani has returned to the place of his birth, at Montrose, after a stopover in Duluth, Minnesota. Imani was born last July here.

“You know, I don’t think he will be here too long, frankly. I think that’s part of why he may have left Duluth,” Itani said. “He’s probably looking for a mate and a nesting place, and if he doesn’t find one, I don’t think he’ll stay too long.”

The chick Imani’s mother, Rose, is still unaccounted for. She and Monty had nested at Montrose Beach for consecutive years — a rarity for Chicago.

A memorial service for Monty will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Itani says piping plovers will be considered endangered as long as there are fewer than 150 nesting pairs in the Great Lakes. The early spring count was 31 nesting pairs.