First piping plover sightings of the season at Montrose Beach

Piping plovers, including one named Pippin, tussle in the sand at Montrose Beach in Chicago on April 13, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

By Tess Kenny | tkenny@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune

PUBLISHED: April 13, 2026 at 7:35 PM CDT | UPDATED: April 13, 2026 at 8:06 PM CDT

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Pippin has been frequenting Illinois since 2024, and Imani is the son of beloved pair Monty and Rose.

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Pippin and Imani are first piping plover sightings of the season at Montrose Beach

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