Monty and Rose are going to be Grandparents! (Grandplovers?)

Nish, one of the three Piping Plovers fledged in Chicago in 2020, has been sighted at Maumee Bay State Park in Ohio, near Toledo, and in the backyard of the world famous Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), since late May. In addition, two lovely Pennsylvania female Piping Plovers, hatched in Presque Isle State Park, have been sighted in the same area.

Nish and one of the Pennsylvania females have taken a liking to each other, have been courting and mating, and as of May 31, have a nest with one egg. A large area of the beach has been cordoned off and an exclosure has been placed over the nest. The nesting location has been described as very similar to Montrose Beach. Here is an image of the nest featuring Nish and his mate.

Kimberly Kaufman, Executive Director of BSBO, will be leading the volunteer effort. The nesting couple couldn't be in better hands.

Now for the best part, something that all of us can truly appreciate:

This is Ohio's first Piping Plover nest in 83 years, a huge win for the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program! All of our resources (training materials, website, quiz, volunteer forms, etc.) have been shared with the Ohio team, and the Chicago team is at the ready to help in any capacity it can.

In 2019, when Dr. Cuthbert heard Monty and Rose where nesting in Chicago back in 2019, she said: "If Piping Plovers can nest at Montrose, it gives me hope they can nest anywhere." Nish is proving her right! These magical birds are bringing communities together in the most wonderful of ways.

If you would like to know more about Nish, check our 2020 updates, including the meaning of the names given to the 2020 brood.

Congratulations Ohio, congratulations Nish!

Photo by Keith Lott