CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Park District said for the first time in the state of Illinois, piping plovers raised in captivity were released into the wild Wednesday at Montrose Beach.
The three plovers - gender unknown - were raised in captivity near Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan.
"There were some concerns that those chicks could not be returned to the location where they were collected because of predation issues," said Matthew Freer, Assistant Director of landscape with the Chicago Park District.
He said Montrose Beach was chosen as the launch point, because it had been such a good home for Monty and Rose.
"One of the things that I think is most interesting is that chicks that are raised in captivity and then released into the wild have a higher rate of return than a chick normally born at Montrose would," Freer said.
"So there's a great likelihood that these chicks will return to Montrose, and we certainly hope that they nest at Montrose next year."
He also said the three chicks can fly - and could be here a couple of weeks before they head south.
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