Monty, half of the pair of favorite buzzards who spent the last summers on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, died on Friday in Montrose Beach, officials said.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of Monty, one of the Montrose Beach pipelines,” said Irene Tostado of Chicago Park.
Tamima Itani from the Chicago Piping Plovers group shared more details, saying that Monty died on Friday afternoon.
“He was watched as he gasped for air before he fell and died,” Itani said.
Monty conquered the heart of the city when he and Rose, crowds of the Great Lakes, three years ago became the first endangered coastal birds to nest successfully in Chicago for decades.
The endangered pair, which has become a strong pair in Chicago, writes Morgan Green of the Chicago Tribune, chose Montrose Beach as a summer nesting site before flying south.
Lovebirds, each weighing less than a stick of butter, continued to break records, release chicks and serve as symbols of a city as hopeful and hard-to-find birds who chose a city beach to save their species.
“This is a story of return, because their population decreased and then they returned. This is a great story for nature conservation, “said Patricia O’Donnell, an observer of buzzards. “But I have to tell you – it’s a love story.”
Monty was taken to Lincoln Park Zoo, where he will be tested. The results are expected in about a week, according to Itani.
The tweets started flooding social networks on Friday shortly after 6 p.m.
“We are sad to say that Monty died unexpectedly today,” said a tweet from the official Chicago Piping Plover news and content account. We will share more when we learn more.
We share with sadness that Monty died unexpectedly today. We will share more when we learn more.
– Chicago Piping Plovers (@ChicagoPiping) May 13, 2022
Another statement from the Chicago Ornithological Society said: “We are shocked and saddened to announce that the Monty Pipeline is no longer with us. We still don’t know what happened, but it is currently being assessed by professionals. “
We are shocked and saddened to announce that the Monti Pipeline is no longer with us. We still do not know what happened, but it is currently being assessed by professionals. Additional information will be shared when it becomes available. https://t.co/kJ6xlSHh8j
– Chicago Ornithological Society (@chicago_birder) May 13, 2022
[ Piping plovers in Chicago: How the ‘love story’ between Monty and Rose unfolded at Montrose Beach ]
Monty had returned to Chicago last month for his fourth summer.
[ Piping plovers in Chicago: How the ‘love story’ between Monty and Rose unfolded at Montrose Beach ]
“Monty and Rose have captured our hearts in a way that very few beings do,” Itani said on Friday. “He will miss Monti very much.”
Morgan Green of the Chicago Tribune contributed.
rsobol@chicagotribune.com
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