The osprey are back in Montana- Missoula osprey cam

Iris the osprey is back in Missoula and is currently rebuilding her nest.  There was some worry that all the construction on the new Missoula College building may cause Iris not no nest here.  Turns out that is not the case.  You can watch two construction projects at once, the college and the nest.  There is also a little sparrow that keeps stopping by to take little bits of nesting material while Iris is away.

Stanley, the male osprey of the couple should be back in town any day now.

This camera is hosted by the Montana Osprey Project  and the Cornell Ornithology Lab

You can make a donation to help fund the project here.

The Hellgate osprey are back!

Iris and Stanley are back on their nest in Missoula's Hellgate Canyon.  Click play to watch them live, 24 hours a day.

Soon they will start mating.  They'll do it every 30 seconds or so.

The AXIS P5534-E camera, computer infrastructure and internet connection were donated by the Riverside Health Care Center. Real time High Definition TV - available in Riverside HCC's lobby - was donated by Raptors of the Rockies. Logistic support provided by Northwestern Energy. This camera is also supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their Bird Cams Project.

Check out The University of Montana Biogeochemistry Labratory's website for more information.

Montana Osprey Project's Hellgate Canyon Osprey Cam!

No osprey in Missoula yet but this is one of the coolest sites on the net as far as I'm concerned.  Dr. Greene says they're on their way!




"The AXIS P5534-E camera, computer infrastructure and internet connection were donated by the Riverside Health Care Center. Real time High Definition TV - available in Riverside HCC's lobby - was donated by Raptors of the Rockies. Logistic support provided by Northwestern Energy. This camera is also supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their Bird Cams Project." - Environmental Biogeochemistry Lab

One of my favorite ecology/biology professors I had when I attended UM was Dr. Erick Greene.  He has done extensive research on osprey on both coasts.  One of the projects I've been most familiar with is the studies on the Clark Fork osprey regarding the long term effects of heavy metals on both the osprey and the river system as a whole.  These pollutants are a result of intensive mining in the headwaters and tributaries of the Clark Fork River which is itself, a headwater to the massive Columbia River. 

If you tune into this blog, you will certainly hear more about the history, plight, management, restoration, astonishing fishing, and future of my favorite stream in America, The Clark Fork River. 

Please visit: http://cas.umt.edu/geosciences/osprey/nestCams/hellgate.php to learn more about the project, the people involved, and most importantly, the osprey-the coolest bird that lives!

I'll re-post this when the osprey arrive.  I'll be volunteering with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks doing a temporary rehab on a local fish ladder tomorrow.  Stay tuned for some info on the ladder and some great pics.