CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Dozens of bird watchers headed to Montrose Beach Wednesday to visit Imani, a piping plover born to celebrity plover couple Monty and Rose in 2021.
Scott Judd was one of the birders.
“When you get a bird like this that’s so rare in the area and endangered in the region, it’s a big deal,” he said. “It’s a great chance to turn other city folk into the reality of what’s going on with the birds out here.”
In 2019, Monty and Rose became the first pair of piping plovers to nest in Chicago in 70 years.
Now, all eyes are on Imani, who, according to Janet Pelligrini and Jenna Vanduine, has become like family.
"How often do you get to see an endangered species … living in the city of Chicago hoping to get a mate?” Pellegrini said. “It's just like front row seats to a story you didn't even imagine could happen, so there's nothing more compelling than being here to me.”
Given how few of the plovers still exist, Vanduine said it’s important to keep their habitat safe and keep the birds safe from unnatural predators. Among those helping in that effort was birder Lin Johnston, who serves as a volunteer monitor.
“Look at him stretch,” Johnston said as she watched Imani through her binoculars. “I love that, that was great.”
As monitor, Johnston and other volunteers help watch over Imani and his family to ensure their safety from “sunup to sundown,” she said.
“I don't know why plovers got me this way,” she said. “They're just so cute, I mean a lot of birds are cute … so I don't know why I love them, but boy I do.”
Piping plovers were also spotted at 57th Street.
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