For The Love Of Piping Plovers

The arrival of piping plovers Monty and Rose to Chicago’s Montrose Beach in 2019 captivated the city’s residents. Chicago’s love affair with the endangered birds grew into an entire fandom which included merch, a film and an army of volunteers dedicated to protecting the piping plovers. Seven years on, while the original love birds are no longer with us, Chicago's population of plovers has rebounded. In the Loop revisits the story of Monty and Rose and how public interest has helped bring the species back from the brink with Audubon Great Lakes Conservation Director Daniel Suarez, Monty and Rose director Bob Dolgan and Lincoln Park Zoo Urban Wildlife Institute Assistant Director Liza Lehrer. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop .