Face To Face With Iris The Osprey | April 20, 2023

Watch the Hellgate Osprey cam zoom in on Iris in Missoula, Montana. Get a close look at her hooked bill and sharp talons. Ospreys are unusual among hawks in possessing a reversible outer toe that allows them to grasp with two toes in front and two behind. Barbed pads on the soles of the birds' feet help them grip slippery fish.
Watch live with updates, tweets, and highlights at
AllAboutBirds.o...
Watch the cam and learn about the Montana Osprey Project at
hs.umt.edu/osprey/
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This Osprey nest is at the mouth of the spectacular Hellgate Canyon at the edge of Missoula, Montana. It’s in a very busy location, right outside the Riverside Health Care Center and next to busy parking lots, a construction site, a busy highway, and a railroad. However, it’s also an ideal location in many ways, since these Ospreys have riverfront property only about 50 feet from the Clark Fork River. Being so close to people does not bother them, and hundreds of people enjoy watching them every day.
The female Osprey at this nest is called Iris because she has very distinctive spots on her iris, especially in her left eye. These iris patterns serve as individual barcodes and allow us to identify her. She has nested at this site for many years. Her mate of many years, Stanley, did not return in 2016, and she attempted to breed with a new male dubbed "Louis" after an influential local Salish elder named Louis Adams (for more info: missoulian.com/...)
Ospreys are consummate fishing birds, and this pair fishes primarily from the Clark Fork River and nearby Rattlesnake Creek. They use their 6-7 foot wingspans to soar above the water, looking for fish, then diving as deep as 3 feet for shallow-swimming prey. Adult Ospreys usually weigh 3-4 pounds, and they can carry prey up to 50 percent of their own weight. Ospreys can live up to 25 years, and they typically lay 1-4 eggs in a clutch.
The nest used to be on a power pole about 200 feet west of where it is now. This was dangerous, since the Ospreys could have been electrocuted, causing fires and power blackouts. In 2007, the current nest platform was erected to provide a safer place for the Ospreys to nest. They took to it immediately. Getting the new nest platform set up, and installing and running to high resolution camera for this feed for you to enjoy has been a large effort involving many groups: Riverside Health Care Center, Karen Wagner, Kate Davis and Raptors of the Rockies, Northwestern Energy, Dave Taylor Roofing Company, and Dr. Erick Greene of the University of Montana.
#birdcams #live #osprey #birds #wildlife #nature #nowplaying #montana

[@schen5425]

🦜for those wondering about Iris ~ she's is now considered the oldest Osprey in the world. Estimated to be around 26-27 yrs young 😊. She got her name because of her distinct spots on her eyes (the iris) 👀✨✨ - esp the left, which makes it easy to know it's her. To me they actually appear like gold specs when there's a closeup and sun 🌞 is on her 🌼💕 she's is amazingly beautiful!

[@peacerebelgirl]

wow, really? she looks so young. all that beauty.

[@robinjenkins947]

Thank you! How long has she used the nest at Hellgate? How many years did she raise chicks?

[@schen5425]

@@robinjenkins947 if I recall reading, I can tell you she's had 4 mates and has outlived 3. Believe it or not she has laid around 30 eggs, not all made it, that's another story and a sad one 🙁.. if you don't have a dedicated partner, then it makes it much harder to feed yourself and the offsprings 😶 I started watching when Stanley was around ✌️

[@mars54mars54]

She is such a rock star.... this is one of the first bird nest cams I started watching so long ago, I miss Stanley!

[@schen5425]

@@mars54mars54 Iris is my #1 🥰 Osprey. When Stanley didn't returned, I went into stress mode 🙍‍♀️

[@debdew7125]

Iris is so beautiful. Hoping she finds a new mate this season. Thanks for the video. I don't do Facebook, so I appreciate any videos of this lovely Osprey.

[@sherrywebber4013]

Living in Florida we have lots of Osprey but this is the first video I have seen them up close like this!!! SOOO awesome!! so beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤

[@laurahenry7375]

She’s beautiful,hope she has success this year ❤️🙏❤️

[@boomerdiorama]

Absolute thing of beauty - Osprey is.😁

[@MrTmiket0007]

Beautiful bird, I love Osprey 🐦👍

[@maisoui62]

What a wild and beautiful bird. Thrilling to see.

[@tanjaluk7907]

So pretty❤

[@robinjenkins947]

She's gorgeous! I love the close-ups.

[@lorrem2539]

She is a beautiful bird! I love her.

[@birdlover6842]

♡ Beautiful sweet Iris. Now that Mrs. G. passed away, Iris is the oldest osprey on cam that we know of.

[@CathyTravlos]

When I was watching yesterday, there was a male perched on the wood while Iris was in the nest. And then there was mating!

[@edwardcrawford6455]

Cornell. Beautiful Birds. Edward Eve Crawford.

[@Kelly-tt1sx]

Beautiful Iris! ❤

[@susanstarker1378]

She's beautiful.

[@joyceferrer3404]

So glad to see Iris back and may be a mate. Hopefully this works out good anyhow enjoy just seeing her. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@wendym.7648]

Sweet face! 💖💖💖

[@PersephoneJones]

Beautiful!

[@michaelsimko7694]

Such a relaxing video. Ospreys are beautiful. Those huge talons probably do a big part in gripping and holding fish while flying and during capture. I never knew the dark feathers on an osprey's wings and back are a dark coffee-like brown.

[@LizbetPCB]

Is pretty Iris still without a mate? She’s been solo for quite a while. Is there a shortage of male ospreys, or what? Those talons are magnificent! Thanks for the close up view ♥️

[@marymonson905]

Yes, Louis. He also mates with Starr a little further away. Hoping he is more faithful to Iris this season.

[@1980rlquinn]

Queen.

[@katalin2555]

👏👏Queen Iris

[@frenchtoastemergency]

Iris!!!😍😍😍😍

[@mamabird129]

She's beautiful. An older lady but so regal and strong. After losing Harriet the eagle, it was so nice to see Iris. My daughter's middle name is Iris. It means 🌈.

[@victorapalkow8681]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💙🤗

[@MaryCamarata]

This morning iris is calling. Has Louis been around yet?

[@Starbreaker666]

Please drop that damn Luis.. He's a deeadbeat. Poor Iris just can't drop him. This is a sad trailer park tale.

[@TRIPLEOG60]

Where is this? Very nice video. Those talons!

[@barbs4919]

Iris , your so beautiful, ❤️

[@TinkerTailor4303]

Such a lovely lady.❤ Any suitors yet? (Poor Iris...)

[@marymonson905]

Yes, Louis. He also mates with Starr a little further away. Hoping he is more faithful to Iris this season.

[@TinkerTailor4303]

@@marymonson905 Louis has been around this year? Any mating? Hmm, he didn't have a very good record last year.

[@marymonson905]

@@TinkerTailor4303 Yes, I saw them mating in April 2023. Only time will tell how loyal he will be this season. I hope the best for Iris.

[@TinkerTailor4303]

@@marymonson905 Absolutely!

[@peacerebelgirl]

What a beauty Iris is. It was fantastic being able to see close ups of her eyes, beak, feet and feathers. she looks so young. any idea her age?

[@hawkz3167]

How old is Iris?

[@susanpluto6770]

Does anyone think Iris is as depressed as I am that she has no mate?

[@debbieneel8344]

She's so pretty,does she have a mate?

[@marymonson905]

Yes, Louis. He also mates with Starr a little further away. Hoping he is more faithful to Iris this season.

[@melindamayes5988]

She's beautiful.