A pair of endangered piping plovers, Blaze and Pepper, have returned to a private beach in Waukegan for the second consecutive year. Their arrival marks a significant event for conservation efforts.
The birds arrived on May 6, nearly simultaneously, after wintering in North Carolina and Florida, almost 1,000 miles apart. This reunion highlights their remarkable navigational abilities.
Brad Semel of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports that the pair is currently foraging and evaluating nesting sites. The whereabouts of last year's fledglings, Juniper, Sage, and Willow, remain unknown.
Piping plovers disappeared from Illinois beaches in the mid-1950s but are making a slow comeback thanks to dedicated volunteers and agencies. Currently, there are 30 confirmed pairs in the Great Lakes region with 29 active nests.
Carolyn Lueck, president of the Lake County Audubon Society, emphasizes the importance of protecting the plover's habitat. Waukegan has adopted the plover, with Mayor Sam Cunningham proclaiming May 29 as Piping Plover Day.
A special screening about plover protection efforts will be held on May 29 at the Waukegan History Museum.