The last surviving Ringed Plover chick has returned to Montrose Harbor again, this time with a cousin.

Nagamo, the only ringed plover chick to survive from a full clutch at Montrose Beach, was observed flying away from the area on Wednesday, according to volunteers with the Chicago Piping Plovers group.

But the chick returned on Saturday, along with another young plover – her cousin from Waukegan.

“The ringed plovers, in particular, are very social, so it was great for Magamo to finally meet someone,” said Tamima Itani, the lead volunteer for the Chicago Ringed Plover, on Sunday.

“The really cute thing was that the two of them were eating together on the pier yesterday and were chatting constantly so you could hear them chirping to each other the whole time.”

It is unknown whether Nagamo ventured north to retrieve her cousin, as they were not seen in that area.

On Sunday morning, Nagamo and her cousin left again, perhaps to head south or for another day trip.

Nagamon made a similar excursion earlier this month, departing Montrose Harbor and returning a day later.

Nagamo’s parents, Imani and Sea Rocket, have already left Montrose Beach to begin their journey south.

According to Itani, it is common for chicks to wander before migration, while adult plovers fly directly south after nesting.

“They (the adults) leave and are seen again three to four days later at their wintering site,” Itani said. “They do not wander, but the chicks visit other places near their breeding sites.”

Known for their “pip-lo” song, ringed plovers have been listed as an endangered species since 1984. The clutch from which Nagamo hatched offered a promising start to the species’ breeding season in Chicago until the other three chicks died.

The birds are about 18 cm long and have a wingspan of 38 cm. They live an average of five to six years, but some can live up to 11 years, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nagamon could leave the city at any time, but the bird is already having a major impact on the residents.

“A lot of people had the opportunity to meet Nagamo and watch Nagamo on the pier and on the beach,” Itani said. “So it was an excellent opportunity for a lot of people to meet cycling plovers, maybe for the first time or just to get reacquainted with them.”