Hellgate Osprey Cam Zooms In On Nestlings Before Fish Delivery - June 21, 2024

Watch the Hellgate Osprey Cam zoom on Iris and her nestlings before Finnegan brings in a fish! After a few bites for the nestlings, the fish is taken away by Finnegan. He'll likely be back to offer more soon!
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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/...)
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

[@joycebaker1885]

I enjoy all your videos regarding wildlife raising their young.

[@bagandbroad]

That is the most serious baby I’ve ever seen. Incredible!

[@2muchpurple]

The expressions on their faces! Incredible birds.

[@techshabby0001]

She's been through a lot of hardships this year. Attacks, and now this. Stay strong!

[@wannabetrucker7475]

Beautiful

[@schen5425]

🦜 I have high hopes for Iris and Finnegan's 2 osplets ❤

[@ZennaD]

Is “osplet” a name that viewers made up? Because I can’t find anywhere that says that’s what Osprey chicks are called.

[@hopesmith3741]

Hmmm, I have watched a lot of osprey nests but this is the first time I've seen a male deliver fish and then take it back; is Finnegan very young and inexperienced?

[@lasigna0212]

@@hopesmith3741 In a video description they say that he probably is. He still doesn't undersand well why he should give up prey.

[@TinkerTailor4303]

​@@lasigna0212Now I'm thinking that may explain what I was describing that Finn was doing -- instinct tells him to deliver the fish to his offspring but instinct also tells him it's time to eat! I'm sure it's very confusing for an inexperienced dad!🤔 And Iris, bless her heart, is as patient with him as she is the chicks!🥰

[@brendaanne0810]

@@ZennaD usually referred to as "chicks" I guess, but she may call them what she wants to

[@debbiebrownstein9666]

Good sized fish! They have to feed their little dinks! So adorable!

[@brendaanne0810]

He brought it in, now trying to take it back... He needs to go fishing again and get one for himself!! 😂😁🦈🐟

[@LibraLady59]

I believe he's trying to take it back because number one he was probably late because Mom was squawking like crazy and number two he usually eats the head, as do bald eagles, and then turns it over to Mom to feed the babies.

[@brendaanne0810]

@@LibraLady59 that's probably true... BUT, when there's babies involved, they come first... And Iris was adamant when she kept feeding the babies... I guess next time he should eat his portion BEFORE he hands it over to Iris that's looking at 2 hungry mouths to feed...

[@LibraLady59]

@@brendaanne0810 that is OUR Human nature. It is not the wildlife way. Wildlife has it's own natural way! Mom was prob adamant, as I stated, bcz I think he was late with delivery & why she kept calling. From what others have said, he is new at this & is learning the ways. No need for anger.

[@TinkerTailor4303]

Brunch!!😋

[@DLionheart]

P.S. As another viewer below pointed out, sometimes Finn wants to feed their babies too. So this can be yet another reason he may go for the fish. I watched him enjoy just a few rare moments of feeding their little ones the other day before Iris took the fish back so she could feed them. The poor guy rarely gets to feed their young but Iris just isn't too keen on letting him very much.

[@emilyward9943]

I agree!

[@DLionheart]

I saw this delivery of the whopper live and it was all lovely indeed. Finn is awesome! ~I can see by some comments below that people don't yet know how it works w/osprey. Most always, the father eats first, then gives the fish to his wife. She will feed herself and their babies. He is not being mean when he hauls in a fish then tries to take it back. He is their provider. He's hungry too and needs to make sure he eats to he can keep doing his job. IMO, he comes to the nest w/his latest catch to check in on his family, let his mate see the bounty coming, then he wants to eat. As we have seen over and over, he most ALWAYS brings the fish back to then allow the feeding of his family. ~As we have seen w/Finn, sometimes he does haul whole fish in to give it to Iris. He might wait just a little bit, then try to take the fish. Sometimes he wins the fish back, sometimes not. But yes, when he does get it, he will eat, then give the fish back after he has had enough. And yes, as some others have noted below, many other male osprey out there most often consume the head portion of the fish before bringing to their mate and family. Finn just does it differently. ~~~Early this morning, he hauled in FIVE very small fishies - one right after another! It was in a matter or mere minutes how fast this all was! He came in about 5:25a their time w/2 tiny fish. He ate one, Iris grabbed the other and she shared it w/their babies. Finn went rt back out, then back in a flash w/another of these tiny fish, he ate that one. Off he zoomed yet again, returning rapidly and ate that one too. He did this one more time, again super fast, Iris grabbed that one and downed it whole. ~~~~So don't be so hard on Finn. IMO, he is a delightful treasure for Iris and their babies. He is THE total package of a perfect osprey mate and oh, how dear "Queen Iris" deserves that! 🥰 TY Cornell!

[@Elizabeth42069]

stop being such a massive know it all

[@DLionheart]

@@Elizabeth42069 I've been living my life just fine thanks w/out you in it, dictating to me as to how I should be, according to you! 🤣How YOU take someone else, then judge based on YOUR interpretation has absolutely nothing to do with neither myself nor facts. But hey, you do you and I will keep right on being me. Bye bye now.

[@C4Faute]

He giveth, and then he taketh away!

[@DLionheart]

And then he bringeth back! 🤣😉

[@ManateeLen]

Hi, I am wanting to install a camera for one of our local Osprey nests in Bradenton, FL. Can you please tell me what camera and technical setup you are using for this camera setup? Does the camera have wifi built-in, or is there a separate transmitter at the nest? Any info you can give will be greatly appreciated :)

[@Erinblueberry]

Iris was definitely speed feeding the chicks

[@jimsmith7716]

This camera should have LIVE chatting. Probably attract more viewers when you can chat.

[@ארזארז-י8ק]

❤❤❤

[@debbieneel8344]

Fin doesn't like to let the fish go without a tug o war

[@franceshenry2305]

❤❤❤😊

[@pjb12025]

Finn is packing on a few ounces lolol !!! He seemed like he wanted to feed the babies as he did give a few bites on a live view l was watching, and my thoughts were he wanted to gives bites to the babies and that was why he kept trying to get fish. Taking it away keeps Iris from feeding them and although l don’t like that behavior, l still feel he wants to feed them. I will say that feeding himself first seems to fall in line with male ospreys l have seen on other nests. I am happy when l see the babies with a decent crop.

[@DLionheart]

Agree - I have also thought he wants a turn at feeding their babies too but Iris isn't too keen about it. He's been able to but not for long and certainly not very often.

[@TinkerTailor4303]

Can't believe how big number one is! I watched some odd (to me) behavior last night. Iris was feeding the chicks, Finn was next to her and kept trying to take the fish. Then he snagged a couple of bites for himself. Wonder why he was trying to take the fish when she was clearly feeding the chicks from it??

[@MorganGoldberg-u6w]

Because he's a bird and not a human!

[@DLionheart]

He gets hungry too. 😂😉See my post above, if you like.

[@LibraLady59]

Did I read elsewhere that the chicks hatched 6 days apart? Or does anyone know how many days between them? Thank ahead of time. 🙏💜

[@kayintexas4672]

Yes- & this has been Iris’s pattern- back in the day when she had a real mate

[@LibraLady59]

@@kayintexas4672 thank you! I've been watching for two or three years but not religiously but now it's becoming religious because she tends to have her chicks after the bald eagles have already fledged. Thanks again! Have a great weekend!

[@LibraLady59]

@@kayintexas4672 also, keep in mind what others have said: he is new to this (prob young) & will get the hang of it. We saw similar incidents with a bald eagle's nest earlier in the year: he was young & new to mating & everything. Female did lay one egg but male was not bringing her food nor incubating when she went to get food. He learned too late to bring fish, as he did after the egg was already deemed not viable. It had been left too many times way too long to nurture.🙏🙏🙏

[@janmarieharmony2788]

Not the 1st time Finn is trying to take the fish back from Iris and the kids 🥺☹

[@DLionheart]

He's not being mean - check out what I wrote about it above if you like.

[@janmarieharmony2788]

@@DLionheart didn't say he was...He's a new dad, so maybe he's still learning things..only said my observations over the past days..I know he'll get better, Iris will let him know..been watching her for several years..😊🥰💖💙

[@DLionheart]

@@janmarieharmony2788 I responded to your sad smileys and no, didn't say you said he was "mean". I was simply sharing my thoughts, my response. ~Some think he's a new Dad and he well might be, but nobody knows for sure. I think he's doing an awesome job as a new mate to Iris and a father to their babies, so for me, I'm good w/everything about him and his behavior. ~~But hey, we all see things differently right? And, we all adore this family, wanting the best for them - that's for sure, no matter what each of us may think about anything going on w/them. ~~~'Been watching for years as well, so for me, Iris going w/out a totally devoted mate for SO long means imo, Finn is ROCKING it perfectly! 🤩😍🤣🥰

[@Sbrillucci]

Hi, I don't know these birds. Are the chicks of this species aggressive with each other?

[@kathgrainger4504]

Hi Yes they can be, I've seen it a lot over the years. I saw the bigger chick pecking at the smaller chick a few days ago & thought oh no please don't start being aggressive towards it but luckily not seen it doing it since

[@lamusamuse]

Males on other nests eat the fish head before delivering fish to nest. Has anyone seen Finn doing this? Might be something he has yet to figure out.

[@2010clif]

Sim, nos demais ninhos o macho sempre come a cabeça e trás o restante para a mãe alimentar os filhotes. Creio que esse Fin é inexperiente! Iris não tem um bom marido há muitos anos. Saúde para os bebes!

[@DLionheart]

@@2010clif She has an awesome husband now, imo and finally! The only thing he does that some people get bothered by = bringing the fish in, then taking it away... He always brings it back! This is just how Finn does it - inexperienced or not, he is taking perfect care of his family.

[@2010clif]

@@DLionheart Ok, o que importa é a saúde dos filhotes! Obrigado.

[@DLionheart]

@@2010clif Hi there. To me, what matters is the health of ALL of them. The family is completely thriving because of what both Finn and Iris are doing, one day at a time.

[@lorrem2539]

I wish Finn would watch the kids and let Iris go fishing. She gets whoopers! Sorry, Finn, that was a whooper!! Hopefully by next season, Finn will be more experienced as a dada, 😍

[@NEntv58]

grew six inches over night

[@catherinebreitfeller669]

Are there 3 chicks ??

[@petrapiciacchia2456]

@@princesslily810 I must be living under a rock, I’m happy to see two chicks but when did the second one hatch? 🐣

[@TinkerTailor4303]

@@petrapiciacchia2456 Five days, I believe, after the first one.

[@baalconnorlarsson789]

That baby is disappointed, serious and with a perpetual "are you fr?" face.

[@LittleBird64]

Well that jerk! He took the fish as his babies were eating. Not nice Finn! 😢

[@DLionheart]

He's anything but a jerk... If he's not hungry himself, sometimes he truly wants to feed the babies too but Iris doesn't seem too keen on that. ~Please see my post above if you like...

[@2010clif]

Que estranho o comportamento desse macho? Trás o peixe e rouba dos filhotes...Iris não tem um companheiro bom faz muitos anos!

[@DLionheart]

He's an awesome mate in my opinion - please read my post above if you like, then see what you think. 😉😊

[@debbieneel8344]

He flew off with the fish,not cool Finn.

[@DLionheart]

Please see my post above if you like. Finn is actually an awesome fellow, imo... He just has his ways and none of them are about being mean, selfish or unkind to his family...

[@katalin2555]

🤦😠

[@DLionheart]

It's okay - please see my post above if you like... Finn brought the fish back after getting his fill, just as I knew he would. 😉

[@viviely2280]

there' a problem with one baby. he's belly up since 30 minutes! please help him

[@dunkaroo13]

I noticed this too. It is stressing me out so much. :( The youngest is stuck right in the center of the nest bowl.

[@viviely2280]

@@dunkaroo13 I don't know how to notify because there is no chat

[@dunkaroo13]

@@viviely2280 The baby is up, but looks like it was having trouble moving around. Hard to tell now, but I think Iris was trying to help. I am still worried.

[@johndahmus6746]

It looks like the little one is not healthy. It looks weak and not being taken care of adequately. Can anything be done to help it?

[@Sythurizm]

Nature is never particularly kind to baby birds but this one is only about four days old compared to it's nine day old sibling which is why they look so different.

[@viviely2280]

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

[@DLionheart]

Not dying. Yes it was VERY stressful to me as well. Little, as some in Twitter call the wee one, was stuck upside down for THE longest time yet = from 15:58-17:41 cam time. It was heart-wrenching to watch but no need for human intervention. We could see Iris trying at different times, to try and help Little rise up... Finally, she pushed nesting next to the baby to give some bracing and it worked! Little got up, finally! I've seen the wee one tumble many times and get stuck on their back but this was THE longest time. They would try, then give up and fall asleep. So no, the baby was not dying. They were simply tired. ~Baby1 aka "Big" hatched on 5/12. Baby 2 aka "Little" hatched 5 days later, so on 6/17. The little one is not as coordinated yet bec they're only 4 days old. But try not to worry too much when baby falls on their back bec Iris won't let it last forever.

[@kathgrainger4504]

@@DLionheart I too was so worried when the little one was on it's back for soooo long, i couldn't go to bed until i knew it was ok. It was finally upright around 1.15am my time, i also have seen it on it's back many times. It's a little trooper, good to see it getting fed plenty...

[@DLionheart]

@@kathgrainger4504 Ikr?! Today that wee one went all over the nest and was moving about much better - they grow SO fast, don't they? And yes, that time on the back was THE longest time stuck there so far, poor baby. 'Happened today - did you see? But Iris used her feet this time to help and it worked. "Little" wasn't stuck for long, thankfully. Totally agree - it's lovely to see everyone get enough to eat - thanks to Fabulous Finn! 🥰

[@kathgrainger4504]

@@DLionheart I missed it moving around the nest today & yes they grow super fast. I did see the little one on its back for a short while today, yesterday i was saying to Iris " please flip it over with your beak" Finn is a real gem with all the food deliveries 🤗

[@DLionheart]

@@kathgrainger4504 🤣🤣🤣You were "saying to Iris..." 😂😂😂😂😍🥰I do the same thing. I was saying: "Iris, roll your baby over like you roll your eggs!" 😂😉Isn't he? Did you see - that last fish he didn't have one bite of. He gave it to Iris, she fed the kids and herself and they ate it all. I suspect any time now, he'll come flying on in with another one and this time, he will eat too! He's a keeper that one! ~Only thing I'm not liking = heinous black flies they're suffering, the curse of summer.

[@GoogleAccount-so4ge]

i think she needs a new mate … this one does not grasp the idea of having a family , I thought they do this instinctively - feeding female and family, it was so sad to watch him taking food from them … poor girl …

[@DLionheart]

No. It's the osprey way for the male to eat first, then the family. I knew from watching that once he had his fill, he would bring the fish back to the family. ~Please see my post at the top if you like, then see what you think. Finn, imo, is awesome.

[@cherylquarry3795]

He is doing a really grand job so far in my opinion

[@DLionheart]

@@cherylquarry3795 'Completely and totally agree with you! 🥰