Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

Calling all Osprey fans! It was an exciting season watching Iris and Clark raise their first chick together on the Hellgate Osprey Cam. We celebrated this milestone with fellow members of the Bird Cams community during a one-hour live online event took place on Wednesday, August 5.

Throughout the hour, we relived some of the season's most unforgettable moments with Dr. Erick Greene and researchers Megan Fylling and Sasha Robinson from the University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab (UMBEL), exploring the fascinating world of Ospreys, and getting an inside look at the research helping us better understand the Osprey population in western Montana.

Watch the cam at allaboutbirds.org/cams/hellgate-ospreys
Learn more about the Montana Osprey Project at https://www.umt.edu/osprey/
Learn more about UMBEL at https://www.umt.edu/bird-ecology-lab/



00:00 Welcome
02:57 Panelist Introductions
06:24 Live Event Overview
08:05 Hellgate Nest History
10:05 Montana Osprey Project Origins
12:25 Osprey Adaptations
19:43 Osprey Migration [Iris’ Return]
21:48 How Old Is Iris and How Do We Identify Her?
24:46 When Does Iris Usually Arrive?
26:08 Where does Iris Migrate to?
28:51 Introducing Iris’ New 2026 Mate “Clark”
32:42 Highlight: Starling Surprises Iris!
33:50 Can Osprey Nests House Other Species?
35:16 All About Osprey Nest Platforms
38:09 SURPRISE! Wensi Fledges During Live Event!
40:43 Why Didn’t All the Eggs Hatch?
44:53 How Fast do Osprey Chicks Grow?
47:18 Where are the Hellgate Osprey adults fishing?
49:57 Highlight: Wensi Fledging Video!
51:09 What Will Happen After Wensi Fledges?
53:38 How are Ospreys Helping Us Learn About Ecosystem Health in Western Montana?
56:55 What is UMBEL studying and how does it fit in?
59:05 Closing Thanks