Iris Offers First Bites Of Fish To Youngest Chick Hours After Hatchling - June 17, 2024

After hatching overnight on June 17, the hours-old hatchling (left) from the Hellgate Osprey nest receives its first bites of fresh fish alongside its 5-day-old sibling (right). Hatchling Ospreys are weak, but they are able to lift their heads for short periods and beg for food. As the chick gets older and gains strength it will become more efficient at nibbling down offerings at mealtime.
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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/...)
After a single year of successful breeding with Louis in 2017, Iris went through several years of unsuccessful attempts as Louis paired up with another female a little downriver. Then, in 2024 a new male showed up (later christened "Finnegan" by viewers) who successfully paired with Iris and began a new breeding season.
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

[@natashastevens5908]

I've been watching this cam with Iris for 10+ years now. The last several years have been so heartbreaking to not see a successful hatching. So happy she's got babies this year 🥰 I hope the newest hatchling gets more food at the next meal. 😊

[@jjfaris]

Iris is a good mother. #1 Is taking big bites now. Thank you.

[@sharonwilson4099]

Something mesmerizing about watching birds feed their babies...

[@lorrem2539]

I always find myself stretching when the other one is trying to get a bite 😅.

[@TamyB1000]

I know the feeling. It seems like the stronger one always gets much more food. 😂

[@catherinej.johnson8708]

LOL! Me too!

[@artimidz3451]

Absolutely amazing to witness these first bites 😄 TYSM!

[@MusesAntiques]

💗 Iris. You’re a pro!

[@artimidz3451]

I love how Iris seemed eager to catch the new hatchling up! 💓

[@janetnaffine9508]

I so love Iris. It’s great that she has finally got a family after waiting so long. Finnegan is a worthy partner.

[@motherearth333]

Thank God....I'm like what about the other one!!! ❤

[@suzmaca650]

Wow! Baby sure has it figured out

[@theck672]

Precious … thank you 🙏

[@susano1450]

Wow! To be here and see this. Great to be included here.

[@timothystevenhoward]

this warms my heart!

[@Sharon-fh8tm]

She's such a good mum💓. And He's such a good provider.❤

[@bagandbroad]

They’re so sweet 🥹

[@Erinblueberry]

Beautiful

[@LarissaTung-Berry]

Lovely to see such intimate scenes

[@o0Blu3b1rd0o]

He eats like my teenage boys-ravenously and bottomless😂

[@jeanafucello1703]

I saw a Red Headed Woodpecker visit around 1 pm today! So cool!

[@japanlego]

Beautiful!

[@melissawarfield]

Iris, are you forgetting the newest chick? Please feed the chick when the sibling is not wanting the food.

[@viviely2280]

please help to The youngest baby !!!!!!!!! he's belly up since 1 hour. he's dying!!!!!!!!!!!

[@H.C.Q.]

So cute! But the sibling isn’t getting fed as much. The one chick is gobbling most of the food.

[@elizabethtatum-soprano]

❤️❤️❤️

[@Susie-h5z]

I have to agree with other commenters - that little one on the left will never make it if he either can't compete with the other one and/or the parent keeps giving more food to the more insistent birdling!

[@OwlWhisperer]

The second is a week younger: can’t even hold up its head yet. A week makes a big difference in nestlings. I’m also worried about how much food the youngest is getting. 😕

[@JASHJustASectionHiker]

Fresh fish

[@AmeeliaK]

They take the right of the firstborn seriously there

[@janemorrison9046]

What about Little Baby?