Monty died earlier this month at Montrose Beach while waiting on Rose, who never returned. Imani, one of last summer’s chicks, was seen in the sand not far from where his father took his last breaths.
On Wednesday evening, a memorial was held for the beloved piping plovers Monty and Rose, not so much to mourn the loss of the birds but to celebrate the wonder of their time in Chicago.
The enthusiasm for the beloved duo is heartwarming but it’s also overwhelming and potentially dangerous for the birds, according to plover monitors. People should keep a distance of at least 30 feet from the plovers.