Meet Imani and Siewka
The Illinois Ornithological Society (IOS), Chicago Ornithological Society (COS) and Chicago Audubon Society (CAS) are happy to announce that the two Piping Plover chicks hatched to Monty and Rose at Montrose Beach Dunes on July 7/8 and July 10, have been named Imani and Siewka by a selection panel representing Chicago’s diverse communities.
This is the third year that Monty and Rose have nested at Montrose Beach Dunes, contributing greatly to the future of this endangered species. Further, one of their 2020 offspring, Nish, successfully mated and nested in OH, giving the state its first Piping Plover nest in 83 years.
Each chick was banded this year, allowing us to track them individually as they migrate. Through an outreach to diverse communities, a naming contest was run, seeking suggestions that reflect Chicago’s culture, heritage and diversity. The final selection was made with the help of a diverse panel.
About the names and their meaning
Imani is the name given to Piping Plover X,-:O,V (Yellow Star): Silver band on upper left leg, no band on lower left leg, Orange band with Yellow Star on upper right leg, Purple band on lower right leg. Dori Levine submitted this name meaning Faith, meaning faith in Swahili, a language spoken along the east African coast from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique. This name represents having faith in our efforts that there will be a future when Great Lakes Piping Plovers are no longer endangered.
Imani (Photo credit: Ann Gunkel)
Siewka (pronounced Shivka) is the name given to X,-:O,V (Green Star): Silver band on upper left leg, no band on lower left leg, Orange band with Green Star on upper right leg, Purple band on lower right leg. This is the chick hatched at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Siewka is the word for plovers in Polish. It was submitted by Aerin Tedesco, in honor of Chicago's large and well-established Polish population, the largest outside of Poland. Polish immigrants and settlers have long been part of Chicago's history.
Siewka (Photo credit: Ann Gunkel)
“CAS, COS and IOS are deeply grateful for the efforts of the many who have made nesting, hatching and fledging of Piping Plovers at Montrose Beach Dunes possible in the past three years: the Dunes steward and volunteers, the Chicago Park District, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the US Department of Agriculture, the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team, the Chicago Police Department, the Montrose Beach and Chicago communities, and scores of volunteers who stood watch from sunrise to sunset for weeks on end to ensure the safety of the nest and the chicks.
About the selection panel
The selection panel consisted of members of nature and environmental organizations in the Chicago area.
Teishetta Daniel, Chicago Park District
Lillian Holden, Openlands
Matt Igleski, Illinois Ornithological Society
Tamima Itani, Illinois Ornithological Society
Jennifer Johnson, Wild Indigo
Maritza Rocha, Forest Preserves of Cook County
Maxima Gomez-Palmer, Chicago Ornithological Society
Jeramie Strickland, Openlands
Credell Walls, Forest Preserves of Cook County
Edward Warden, Chicago Ornithological Society