UPTOWN — Another beloved piping plover has returned to Montrose Beach.

Sea Rocket, a female bird who was released into the wild at Montrose Beach in 2023, was spotted by bird watchers along the North Side lakefront Tuesday, according to volunteer group Chicago Piping Plovers.

Sea Rocket is the first female bird seen at the beach this season. Males Pippin and Imani returned to Montrose Beach last month, Block Club previously reported.

Her return to Montrose Beach may signal the rekindling of the romantic pairing between Imani and Sea Rocket.

Imani (left) stands nearby as Sea Rocket (right) the piping plover scampers and scavenges along Lake Michigan at Montrose Beach in Uptown on May 5, 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Sea Rocket the piping plover scampers and scavenges along Lake Michigan at Montrose Beach in Uptown on May 5, 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

For the past two summers, Sea Rocket and Imani have successfully hatched piping plover chicks at Montrose Beach.

Last summer, the pair had three chicks: El, Bean and Ferris. Ferris was killed by a hawk, but the other two survived. In 2024, the two made a nest with four chicks. All their chicks died except one, named Nagamo, despite efforts by local preservationists.

Imani is the son of the piping plover couple Monty and Rose, who became Chicago celebrities when they began nesting at Montrose Beach in 2019. Monty died at Montrose Beach from a respiratory infection in 2022, while Rose’s whereabouts are unknown.

Pippin hatched on Cat Island in Green Bay in 2023 and has been spotted in Chicago the past two summers. He was the first plover spotted at their preferred nesting grounds at Montrose Beach this year. Pippin was seen missing a foot that was likely the result of leaving the beach last year with something caught around his leg. He has since relocated to Waukegan Beach, according to Chicago Piping Plovers.

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