Ospreys Return To Hellgate Canyon
In other Osprey news, the breeding pair from the Hellgate Osprey cam have returned to their nest in Missoula, Montana. Watch Louis and Iris reunite for the first time on cam since they started their migration south last September.
Migrant Osprey pairs neither migrate together nor do they overwinter in the same area. Instead, breeding pairs typically travel alone to their Neotropical wintering grounds (as far south as Chile and southern Brazil). They reconvene at the nest site before the breeding season, with the male usually arriving before the female. This year, Louis was the first to arrive on cam on April 4, followed closely by his mate Iris on April 6.
After unsuccessful breeding attempts in the past two years, 2018 will mark this pair’s third attempt to raise a chick to fledging. In the coming weeks, viewers will observe plenty of fish deliveries, copulations, and “nestorations” as Louis and Iris prepare for the arrival of their first egg. Watch cam. |