Plover Chick Hatches With Help from Lincoln Park Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: July 12, 2021 2:00 am

The Great Lakes piping plover chick hatched at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Photo Credit: Lincoln Park Zoo

A Great Lakes piping plover has emerged from its egg after receiving support from the teams at the Lincoln Park Zoo and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The chick’s egg was laid by well-known parents Monty and Rose who have received attention due to their nesting site on the north side of Chicago in recent years.

The Great Lakes piping plover chick hatched at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Photo Credit: Lincoln Park Zoo

Monty and Rose laid four eggs this year and were being monitored by a remote camera. By July 8th 2021 three of the chicks had hatched but one egg remained incubating. Unfortunately by the next day the parents had moved their full attention to the chick.

Teams monitoring the remote camera made a decision to remove the remaining egg and bring it to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

With Great Lakes piping plovers being endangered in the wild it was seen as important to hatch as many eggs as possible.

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At the zoo keepers placed the egg in a hatcher and by July 10th had welcomed a strong, healthy and vocal chick. Following an evaluation it was decided the chick should return to its parents. Upon its return Rose immediately began to brood and care for her chick.

“We are honored to play a part in the recovery and conservation efforts of these incredible plovers,” said Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds and Wildlife Policy Sunny Nelson. “We are cautiously optimistic but remain hopeful the chick will thrive alongside its parents.”

The successful outcome has been celebrated by all members of the project team including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Chicago Park District, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Ornithological Society, Illinois Ornithological Society, Chicago Audubon Society, and all of the many dedicated volunteers monitoring the birds around-the-clock.