Another piping plover was seen wandering through the sand at Montrose Beach Friday — this time one of Chicago’s very own.
Imani, the son of beloved couple Monty and Rose, is back home, according to Chicago Piping Plovers, a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting local plovers.
“Welcome home, sweet prince!” the group wrote on social media Friday.
BREAKING: Imani is home!
Hatched in 2021 on Montrose Beach, son of Monty and Rose, our native son Imani is home. Welcome home, sweet prince!📸: Lin Johnston (Imani, Montrose, Chicago, April 18, 2025, back of camera photo) pic.twitter.com/acxxTaoqLz
— Chicago Piping Plovers (@ChicagoPiping) April 18, 2025
Imani, who hatched in 2021, is the third plover to be spotted at Montrose so far this spring.
Last week, Pippin, a plover that hatched in Wisconsin in 2023, and Uncle Larry, who hatched in Michigan in 2023, were spotted wandering the beach. Uncle Larry has since flown away — likely back home, according to the group.
Imani and Pippin were seen getting acquainted Friday as they walked through the beach.
The group asked residents to respect the beach’s boundaries when visiting the birds.
“Let’s be sure to give Imani his space as he rests and refuels after his migration journey … and sorts out what’s up with Pippin,” the group wrote on social media.
Imani was also the first of Chicago’s plovers to return home last spring.
Imani mated with Sea Rocket last year and hatched four chicks — but three of the chicks didn’t survive. The only surviving chick and newest member of the family was named Nagamo, which means “he/she sings” in the Ojibwe language.