DUNROVIN & HELLGATE, MT~2016, 2017 & 2018

catwoman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 31, 2015 11:15 pm

Cam link:

Facebook link:

Ferenz · **Posted:** Fri Jan 29, 2016 12:13 pm

Ferenz · **Posted:** Sun Apr 10, 2016 10:27 am

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2210

From Dr. Erick Greene, re Hellgate Osprey nest:
On FB (4-9-16)
Hi all,
Many of you keen observers have let me know that there is some mesh up in the nest. It looks like a polypropylene netting, and it is definitely bad stuff. This is one reason that it is really important that these sorts of non-degradable plastic ropes, baling twine, plastic bags, mesh and fishing lines NOT be left outside. These polypropylene ropes and meshes don't break down very quickly, tangle up wildlife and kill lots of ospreys and other species every year.
We spend a lot of time every year spreading information about the dangers of these polypropylene ropes and meshes. We are seeing some great results in some areas, and we continue to spread the word. We have an educational pamphlet designed to get out information about baling twine - if you can help get the word out let me know and I can get you copies.
I will go back up to the nest and take out the mesh, but probably won't be until Monday when I can get a bucket truck.

UPDATE: Iris was fiddling with the wire mesh - and it BLEW OFF the nest a little while ago. (It's now below the nest - hopefully, someone will remove it before Iris brings it back!

Pic of the wire mesh and more: https://www.facebook.com/16507261355690 ... =3&theater

Ferenz · **Posted:** Tue May 10, 2016 3:32 pm

Hellgate

from fb

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2210

Thanks, Ferenz! I forgot that there was a thread here for Hellgate and Dunrovin...
Re Hellgate, can't recall dates right now, but Stanley has not returned... :girlsad3:

Iris has laid 4 eggs - the 1st one (unknown/no male???) was taken by a raven.
The 2nd one's father???
The 3rd - possibly "NG" = New Guy (If he sticks around, Eric Greene will name him)
#4 - yesterday = NG's egg.
NG seems young, doesn't realize he should brood when Iris takes a break, has only brought Iris food a couple of times so far (I haven't checked closely today) - by Ferenz's pics - maybe he's learning!

(It's surprising that NG hasn't destroyed/kicked out the eggs... it looked like he tried a couple of times, not successful. Who knows if any will hatch???)

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2210

Posted on FB:

Hi all,
Well it looks as if Stanley is not going to return this year. Dang!! There has been another osprey flying low over the nest the last few days, but I have not been able to get a good enough look at it to see if it might be Stanley. I suspect not, since if it was Stanley, I think he would would be much more persistent about getting back on "his nest."

So I suspect that Stanley died over the winter. We have no idea how old he was, but when he first showed up he certainly seem to know the ropes: he was already very accomplished at nest repair and remodeling, an expert copulator (no mean feat - none of this falling off Iris' back mid-copulation), an expert incubator, and above all, and outstanding fisherman. So Stanley might have been fairly old and caught his last fish this last winter.

I suspect that the new male is probably fairly young, and this could very well be his first breeding attempt. He has some learning on the job to do, but it is very encouraging that he finally got the hang of incubating the eggs today. Thanks to camera operator extraordinaire Grandad Rufus for snagging this great video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0AwbcFWT10

As long as the new male keeps bringing in the fish (one of the MAIN requirements in the osprey dad job description) this nest may be successful this year.

Cheers,
Erick Greene

Also, here are the dates of the eggs;
5-9-16 #4
5-5-16 #3
5-2-16 #2
4-30-16 Raven took egg #1
4-29-16 #1

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2210

Hellgate:
Iris laid egg #5 yesterday (5-12-16).
There are 3 eggs in the nest: 1 removed by raven, 1 destroyed and partially removed by NG.

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue May 24, 2016 1:54 am

Hellgate update

New osprey father named in honor of Salish elder
The day after Salish elder Louis Adams died, life began anew at a place steeped with his personal history.

That’s when Iris, the osprey whose nest Adams blessed while he was participating in ground-breaking ceremonies for the future Missoula College building two years ago, got a new mate. A streaming webcam has made Iris world-famous, and her audience of fans had been wondering what would happen after long-time mate Stanley failed to return with her this spring.

“Iris came back all dressed up and ready to go, but no Stanley,” said Erick Greene, a University of Montana ornithologist who set up the webcam. “We suspect he died over the winter. They’d been coming for 15 years. Louis Adams died in late April, and the next day, this new male osprey showed up.”

Fish-hunting osprey typically mate for life, although they will take on new partners if one dies. While Iris has been one of the most successful breeders Greene has monitored, the new bird has faced a steep learning curve.

“She’s laid five eggs so far,” Greene said. “A raven got the first one, and the second got chucked out before the new male got back. But now she’s got three in the nest, and she’s incubating away.”

The male has taken a while to learn the proper size of stick to bring to the nest that won’t fall out, and how to take his turn on the eggs so Iris can do some fishing of her own. But he also appears more comfortable perching on river-crossing power lines to target fish than Stanley was.

Residents of the Riverside Healthcare Center next to the nest have a dedicated monitor in the lobby to keep a close eye on the osprey. Center life enrichment director Tammy Beloc said the live feed was one of the most popular activities at the skilled nursing facility.

“The word spreads all through the place as soon as the birds return,” Beloc said. “We have people from out of town stop by to see the birds, and they get Christmas cards from all over the world sent to us here.”

Greene said he sought and got permission from Adams’ family before announcing the name for the new male on the nest’s Facebook page.

“Louis was a revered elder and an amazing man,” Greene said. “When he blessed the osprey nest, he told us about when his grandmother was born in a tepee right across the river from where the nest is. There are about 200 countries around world watching that camera. I thought it would be neat to name this new male in honor of Louis Adams. The family was excited, and they gave their blessing to name the new male Louis.”

Beth · **Posted:** Tue May 24, 2016 6:39 am

Ferenz · **Posted:** Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:23 am

Hellgate, MT >> Exchange

Ferenz · **Posted:** Mon May 01, 2017 6:10 am

Quote:

Hellgate04/26/17- 11:40 Congratulation Iris and Louis first egg is laid, by Uta Grosse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM598GN5bvA

Quote:

Hellgate04-29-17-05:57 Iris behavior shows all to lay egg2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFXOSW9lfPE

Quote:

Hellgate04-30-17-14:11 Nice headless afternoon dinner for Iris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ME3xUBrRBo

Ferenz · **Posted:** Mon May 01, 2017 6:25 am

Iris rolling her two eggs this early morning... :newegg:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYya7ViEbIM

Ferenz · **Posted:** Fri May 05, 2017 12:04 pm

You won't believe this, but precious IRIS did it:

:newegg:

bonbon · **Joined:** Thu May 21, 2015 8:04 pm **Posts:** 2210

Wow! Thanks for the great updates, Ferenz! Four eggs!
I just LOVE this nest! (Although I still look for 'google eyes Stanley' a bit... do miss him! :15heartbeat:

)

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64399

Ferenz · **Posted:** Sat Jun 03, 2017 1:42 pm

First hatch

Ferenz · **Posted:** Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:47 am

Hellgate, MT - Bob1

Ferenz · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2017 7:12 am

Hellgate, MT

Quote:

After hatching in the early morning on June 5,
Iris and Louis's second chick is delicately fed its first meal alongside its older sibling (on the right).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnSu58R0zf4

Quote:

June 06, 2017
Sad News About One of the Osprey Nestlings

Last night at around 1:30 AM MST one of the Osprey chicks crawled out from under a brooding Iris to the outer edges of the nest and remained there, unmoving. We're sad to report that, after about 9 hours of inactivity, the chick is presumed to have died. The remaining chick continues to look active and vigorous in the nest bowl. Two unhatched eggs also remain in the nest (on day 35 and day 32 of incubation, respectively). High, rushing waters in the surrounding waterways have likely made fishing difficult for Ospreys in the area. Despite this unfortunate news, we remain to have a positive outlook as the Ospreys push forward into the breeding season.

http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/2 ... e_Ospreys/

Hellgate ospreys 6 6 17 143am baby #1 was out from under Iris and fell down in front of nest ream...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ehTbXi4DVs

Ferenz · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2017 9:16 am

Hellgate, MT

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