Today we were quick to locate Hazel and Nish, who were feeding along the lake shore, Rose kept them company. We soon located Monty at the opposite end of the beach, in the company of 14 Willets. But search as we may, we could not find Esperanza…
Read MoreThank you to one of our wonderful monitors, Raed Mansour, for capturing this adorable moment!
Read MoreThe three Piping Plover chicks have been named…
Read MoreOne of our wonderful volunteer monitors, Aerin Tedesco, took videos of the entire banding process. Now you can watch the whole thing from rounding the chicks up to the banding to the family reunion at the end. Enjoy!
Read MoreIn my last monitoring shift, I was struck by the quick passage of time: the 3 chicks, at 12 days old, were so big compared to my previous shift a week earlier…
Read MoreThe Chicago Piping Plover chicks were banded today.
Read MoreThe chicks are growing and venturing out! Check out their latest photos.
Read MoreSeveral videos by Aerin Tedesco captured fun moments in the 4-day old Piping Plover chicks’ lives. You can see the chicks being brooded, emerge from brooding, stretch and feed.
Read MoreMonitor Susan Szeszol captured these images on June 24, 2020.
Read MoreThe Plovers continue to be concerned about the presence of the Killdeers at the fluddle where they are raising their chicks, and they consult with each other as evidenced in this video by Jeff Bilsky.
Read MoreThe three remaining chicks remain healthy and feisty - and hungry! After their parents’ epic battle with the Kildeer yesterday, the three chicks have been enjoying meals at the fluddle, where there is an abundance of tiny insects and small invertebrates which provide the nutrition they need to grow strong. Check out these great videos by Tamima Itani taken this morning of the chicks feeding and brooding (then venturing out).
Read MoreA big day for the Piping Plover family! After a quiet and restful early morning, Rose and Monty decide to move their little chicks to the nutritionally abundant fluddle in the volleyball area. But the Killdeer who have resided there all spring will not yield territory without a strong fight!
Read MoreThe Plovers and their chicks are very difficult to see from the trail without binoculars. Volunteer Monitors are stationed on the trail near the fluddle, and as the chicks roam, monitors will adjust their locations to best monitor and protect the chicks who are extremely vulnerable to predators and human disturbances.
If you choose to attempt to see the Plovers from the trail, please follow these guidelines to ensure the safety of the Plovers, the Monitors and yourself.
Read MoreJune 18, 2020 - The first chick from Monty and Rose’s 2020 nest has hatched!
Endangered piping plover chicks are once again running around Chicago’s Montrose Beach under the watchful eyes of a rotating crew of volunteer piping plover monitors. In recognition of the importance of this nest to recovery of this endangered species, the plover monitors have been granted access to the Lakefront to monitor the plover family.
Read MoreToday marks a significant milestone with Monty and Rose. During nest monitoring, a fourth egg was confirmed. The clutch is now complete.
Read MoreYesterday, May 22, in the natural area at Montrose we found Monty and Rose sitting on three eggs in a nest scrape in the sand. The CPD, IDNR, and USDA joined USFWS on the scene right way to install protective measures.
Read MoreOn May 1, 2020 Jason Steger, Natural Areas Manager for the Chicago Park District, reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that Chicago’s piping plover pair are back on the beach at Montrose!
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