Piping Plover chicks hatch at Montrose Beach

CHICAGO (WGN) – A Piping Plover plan has hatched at Montrose Beach.

“They’re called Piping Plovers for a reason,” birder and photographer Phil Stosberg said. “Just hearing their little sounds is really exciting.”

Three chicks came out of their shells on Friday, the progeny of Piping Plover power couple father, Imani, and mother, Sea Rocket.

“There’s always that moment when you first see a Piping Plover and then when you first see a Piping Plover chick,” EmoBirdWeek Founder Matthew Dolkart said.

On Saturday, birders braved the heat to peep the Piping Plovers in their urban beach nesting area, careful as always to keep a respective distance.

“To be able to come in here in the middle of a major city and to be able to see endangered birds like the Piping Plover, that’s something super special and super unique,” Stosberg said.

This is Imani and Sea Rocket’s second year breeding at Montrose Beach.

Imani is the son of Monty and Rose, the original Plover couple who made waves when they nested at Montrose Beach six years ago, the first time in over 70 years for Chicago and Cook County.

Last year, four chicks hatched for Imani and Sea Rocket. Only one survived.

Thankfully, a team of volunteers are at Montrose Beach to help the Plovers prosper.

“Everyone is pitching in and they’re great volunteers,” Chicago Piping Plovers Volunteer Coordinator Tamima Itani said. “Some of them have been here since 2019 when Monty and Rose first nested.”

Plovers are considered endangered in the Great Lakes Region, but there is some good news: 2025 has been a record-breaking year, with 82 breeding pairs accounted for so far.