CHICAGO — One of Chicago’s most eligible bachelors might have finally found someone to settle down with.
Imani the piping plover returned to Montrose Beach in late April. But the bird — a son of the famously romantic duo Monty and Rose, whose tale stole Chicago’s heart — has had trouble finding his own happy ending, as no female plover had been spotted at Montrose.
Or that was the case until Wednesday, when a piping plover called Sea Rocket touched down at the beach. Sea Rocket is believed to be female.
Already, Sea Rocket and Imani have been seen cavorting, and local birders are hopeful Imani might have finally met his mate.
It’s not a sure thing, though: Two other male plovers — one known as Green Dot and another that is unbanded — have been spotted at the beach recently, and Sea Rocket briefly visited Montrose previously before departing.
Still, all four plovers could be seen running around the beach early Thursday, and birders are eagerly watching to see what will happen.
The bird experts are still urging beachgoers and plover fans to give the bird plenty of space for their safety, though.
Imani, a male plover, was born with his sibling, Siewka, in summer 2021 and is now nearly 3. He is the son of the famed Monty and Rose, the plovers who stole the city’s hearts and inspired plovermania in Chicago starting in 2019.
Monty died at Montrose Beach from a respiratory infection in 2022. Rose did not return to the beach that year and has not been seen.
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