Before then, 500 to 800 pairs of piping plovers had nested in the Great Lakes Region, including in Illinois. “The Waukegan area used to be the primary nesting area for the plovers in Illinois ...

Most piping plovers raised in captivity return to summer where they were released. Searocket was one of three captive-reared chicks released in the beach’s protected area in June 2023.

Piping plovers had not been seen in Chicago since 1955 when a pair of plovers — who were later named Monty and Rose — began nesting at Montrose Beach. Since then, plovers have returned each year.

The result was still better than feared, however, sending BoQ’s shares 6.5 per cent higher to hit a 17-month high on Wednesday. The shares closed the session at $6.68.

BOQ’s last accounts show its first-half net interest margin was at 1.55 per cent, down from 1.58 per cent on the same period a year earlier. Its closest peer, Bendigo, returned 1.83 per cent and ...

BoQ expects to automate 80 percent of key processes between FY23 and FY26. BoQ’s digitisation foray saw it acquire ME Bank in February 2021, which at the time marked its first digital-only bank.

BOQ’s retail brands include Virgin Money, ME and BOQ. The decision on brokers leaves ME as the only remaining brand available to a customer via a broker.

Analysts at the broker forecast the BOQ net profit to grow 8.8% to $320 million in FY25 and to $406 million by FY28. If both forecasts are correct, that would be a rise of 38% between FY24 and FY28.

I'm not calling BOQ a bargain buy, and I don't think it's the best S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) opportunity right now. However, the prospect of BOQ's profit decline being halted would be positive.