Squirrel Wanders Up The Wrong Nesting Pole | Hellgate Osprey Cam - May 1, 2020
Who's this? An unexpected visitor stopped by the Hellgate Osprey cam this morning when a squirrel climbed up the nesting platform and onto the nest occupied by the female Osprey, Iris. The visit was short lived, as Iris quickly circled about the nest and swept away the squirrel on her second attempt! This squirrel is lucky that Ospreys are the only raptors that exclusively eat fish.
Watch live with updates, tweets, and highlights at
AllAboutBirds.org/ospreys
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/news/local/new-...)
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
If that had been an eagles' nest.... food delivery! 😊
hilarious!
Was wondering why she didn't just kill it and feed it to the young
@@richkeeshan9757 Apparently, ospreys only eat fish.
Elizabeth Guy I think so
I don't think grub hub could do it better!
Squirrel was lucky that this wasn't a hawk.
@@maverick6817 *you're*
@@maverick6817 No genius, I was correcting your speech. You said "your dumb", but the correct grammar is *"you're* dumb". Also, true Hawks are in the family Accipitridae. Ospreys are in the family Pandionidae, so not true Hawks, although they are still called Hawks by some, so you're really in no position to call anyone dumb.
@@peatmoss4415 big surprise
Ospreys actually are a type of hawk, but they only consume fish.
@@direfranchement It depends on how you define "Hawk". It's certainly a "Bird of Prey".
Well, the squirrel finally got his “stay home” warning.
That squirrel knew exactly what he was doing! Agitator!!
It was an antifa squirrel!
So glad to see this tough Mom back safely and soundly.. Thank you so much for the video..
What a lovely view, my nest is compl... SQUIRREL!
WHER--!!?? !
wow it actually had the squirrell in its talons at first and swung around an slammed it against the nest,ONE SMART BIRD
It's hard to tell with this camera frame, but I think he got out of her talons, grabbed one of the sticks in the nest, and then climbed back up. If she had held onto him I bet she would have just dropped him on the ground.
Now Iris needs to do a little maintenance on her nest.🙃🙃 Don’t mess with Iris.
I agree. She will have some work to do.
That is one brave squirrel! He didn't know he was going to have a close encounter with Iris, The Queen Of The Ospreys! He high tailed it out of there after seeing Iris's magnificent wings! 💖💜🤩
...and her talons!
That squirrel got the shock of it's life - Iris is invincible.
«its life».
I don't know why but I find this video hilarious.
Me when I see a spider in my room, wreck everything! 🤣🤣
Squirrel: oh does this have nuts? Hmmm... lemme- Osprey: *DIVE BOMB* 0:57
10 second video expanded to over 4 minutes.
That was great footage lucky squirrel I didn't know osprey only ate fish TY for sharing very interesting n intense encounter
Not sure that squirrel was too lucky
getting grabbed in a par of talons and carted off for an aerial drop doesn't sound lucky to me. Also: The vast majority of the Osprey's diet is fish, typically 5-16 inches in size. Only occasionally, when fish aren't available, will the Osprey eat small mammals, birds, or reptiles. However, the Osprey is highly specialized for eating fish and does not stray from this diet unless necessary.
That squirrel had a lot of nuts making a second and third effort
The bird looks so awkward out of the sky. The squirrel is in its element but needs a squirrel suit for flying, since it isn't a flying squirrel😅
Thank you Dlionheart. Yes I agree with you!! A full time mate would be great. I remember her calling and calling for Louis ☹️
Damn squirrel. His distant relatives have been digging up my garden.
Wow, that is one persistent squirrel. It must want to see if there's any osprey eggs in the nest. Iris is NOT having it, LOL. Go IRIS!
Wow Iris is stunning. You can't appreciate her wing size on this angle so seeing her in person must be magnificent. I hope Iris and her mate have a successful breeding season next time. I didn't know they only ate fish, was cringing waiting for her to fly back and eat her visitor. V lucky squirrel, hope it survived it's drop back down to earth...and learnt it's lesson.
0:46 squirrel was like "wtf?!" 🤣
It's like watching your your two favorite teams facing off in the playoffs. #TeamOsprey
The squirrel was looking for young chicks to eat.
or a couple of poached eggs
Yeah it will be back it had no fear
Thank you for the clip! Saucy, brave and adorable squirrel is one lucky critter indeed! Whoa. 👍😱💕
Absolutely awesome to watch slowed down to .25.
Nice. You can see the old glacial Lake Missoula lake bed marks up on the hillslope. My childhood hometown. :-)
Im glad its not too...i swore i was looking east in hartford ct. along RT. 91...in that case it would have been a landfill (anyone know where it really is ? )
Play it in slow motion and you can watch its talons opening up, Those talons rip fish from the water
Put it that way shows how strong the grip is. Wonder if the squirrel is wounded?
I didn't know that about the Ospreys, Thanks!
I see the squirrel got the invitation for dinner
Hey, is that hill in the background man made ? If it is, then it may slide if soaked with rain.
I was waiting for the osprey to grab the squirrel and drop it down. These squirrels are going to learn not to mess with the wrong bird 😂😅😂😅.
che bello! quanto tempo ha?
I think I actually saw a look of shock on that squirrel's face!😅
That squirrel now has an incredible story to tell its grandkids.
Wow! I had no idea they could fight back like that. I thought birds were more fragile. LOL
Wow the squirrel messed up bad 😂
Amazing footage...I can’t believe that squirrel would even attempt to get on the nest with the wing span of Iris looming over it! Actually, this seems odd because squirrels seem to know they are on the food list for birds of prey. The squirrels in my yard always alert and immediately freeze when hawks come into my yard. Any theories on why this one was so bold? Wondering if the squirrel has punctures from her talons...guess we will never know.
barnowlwatcher Squirrels will raid unoccupied nests and eat eggs, probably didn’t realize someone was home lol,
She knocked it off the nest and it was quite a long drop, soooo, the squirrel could be injured or worse.
I hope the squirrel made it ❤️ I love squirrels and osprey. And that was a fox squirrel like we have where I live. ❤️💖
in-home delivery and you don't eat the fresh meal?
Who would have guessed a squirrel had no respect for this bird of prey.
An osprey can lift out of the water with a large fish in its talons. This squirrel had DAMN well better skedaddle while it can.
Nice strafing runs!
What was that squirrel thinking? The osprey was stealing his nuts?😅
Is everyone gonna ignore how big that damn squirrel was lol GEEZ
We have fat ones like that in Michigan, when they jump from one branch they don't make the next.
Is Louis anywhere around. I haven't checked in several days. She looked so sad the last time I was here.
Louis is in and out as usual. I keep praying for a miracle = that Iris will accept a new suitor and chase Louis away. He needs stay with his "wife" at another nest and free Iris to get a real and full time mate.... Sadly this doesn't appear to be happening any time soon.... Ugh. My heart is heavy for dear Iris being alone so darn much.... She deserves a true mate, bless her.
@@DLionheart .. Yup! This magnificent gal needs a worthy suitor.
Delivery?
Had to see this vid 9 times. What an awesome vid!! Squirrel 🐿 was almost din din. Osprey took it for a test drive but it got away. Nest got so messed up. Hope squirrel 🐿 knows not to visit again 😂. Thank you for sharing. Loved and enjoyed it so much!
Squirrel was like...I think this is my house. Bird ...nope and get the hell out. Squirrel...you sure this ain’t my house?...let check one more time. Bird...ahh hell nahh
These squirrels are way too curious sometimes, lol. Also, that's a scary and fascinating situation, seemingly managing to get away alive after having a predator hold you in their talons, fly around with you and slam you against their nest.
Squirrel was not curious he was looking for a meal. They eat eggs and chicks
Dang squirrel 🐿 almost bit the dust
Back in the day at my Uncles place in Colorado we used to eat the osprey eggs for breakfast and roast the bigguns for dinner. Best eatins ever.
Osprey used Tackle!...It's super effective!!
That squirrel was caught between a hawk and a high place.
Squirrel probably wanted to eat its eggs.
Iris must’ve gotten a good workout from chasing off the intruder.
What a beautiful view this bird has arranged for himself. No wonder that squirrel wanted up there. It's nice but I'd put a roof on it at least and maybe a throw rug or two but wouldn't change a thing else.
Squirrels have been known to rob bird’s nest.
Squirrel was like Trump he kept coming and coming like he was on Twitter!!
Does Iris have a mate, yet?
So far, just part-time Louis darn it all.
If I had been that squirrel I would have had a scooby doo moment oh heck let's get out of here great footage on a serious note ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🏴
gaunnae no dae that mr squirrel
Don't mess with mama!
The squirrel eats the eggs and chicks! It wasn't by chance that he went to Iris' nest.
Squirrel was only trying to collect Rent due.😁
The squirrel......... wait for it....... has some Nuts!!!! 😀
That squirrel is Fast!!!
Wish I could get Iris to keep the squirrels of my bird feeder!
2012iwanttogohome put out squirrel feeders they want to eat too, I have both kinds of feeders in my yard
Reminds me of Smaug burning lake town...
Someone posted here that the squirrel must have known that osprey only eat fish. Incorrect...osprey “mostly” eat fish. They will on occasion eat, small mammals, birds and reptiles (eel, snake, frogs, etc.). Lucky for the squirrel there were no chicks to protect or feed...otherwise, “oh look, lunch delivered itself.”
"Slay Queen, slay." #EsMiBarrioHolmes
She tried to warn ya. You didn't listen.
That’s so funny that he didn’t use it as food.
holy crap!!!! that squirrels got 9 lives!!! LOL
It was at the moment Jeff realized he'd fucked up!
Her nest really got messed up though from this😳
0:15 Osprey:: Hey..HEY PAL... WRONG POLE! WRONG POLE! GET LOST! 0:37 Squirrel: Hey where my nuts at? You got my nuts up here Bruh!? I know you're hiding them up here!... 0:40 Osprey: SO...YOU'VE CHOSEN DEATH, PREPARE TO DIE! ::grabs Squirrel with talons:: How's those nuts for ya...
Could do with that Osprey to wreak vengeance on grey squirrels on my bird feeder.
Apparently birds of prey also use Skip The Dishes
That squirrel earned a pair of thug life glasses...
Thanks I apologize 🤗
Hellgate? Squirrel go the surprise of a lifetime. WTG IRIS!
Do ospreys eat squirrel?🤔
From BirdWeb.org: "The vast majority of the Osprey's diet is fish, typically 5-16 inches in size. Only occasionally, when fish aren't available, will the Osprey eat small mammals, birds, or reptiles. However, the Osprey is highly specialized for eating fish and does not stray from this diet unless necessary." birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/osprey
I don't think that squirrel wandered up to the wrong nest. I think and it's pretty obvious that he or she came to try and capture and eat the osprey young eggs. It didn't scamper away when it was first spotted by osprey mom. It ran after it realized it was gonna die and so he got the heck outa there. My guess is next time he'll make sure momma is gone before trying that little stunt again?! Lol
I am super surprised Ospreys do not eat squirrels.
Surprised that squirrel didn’t become lunch.
That's one very Irish squirrel.
Iris has to do some nestorations after that! Don't mess with her, she's a bb♥️
ive read that ospreys eat rats too after seeing one after something on land. strange that it didnt kill that rat
What a nasty surprise for the squirrel!
I was hoping for squirrel dinner
👍
Big Smoke
Where's waldo?
lol omg!
Squirrels like eggs!!!
One lucky squirrel. Osprey as a raptor are opportunists. Fish accounts for 95+% of their diet. However if a river or lake was to dry up, they can and do try to hunt rabbits, ground squirrels etc etc... if she could have gotten that quick squirrel, she would have eaten him.
Oh no now the nest!!! At least there weren't little ones on the nest! Can anyone tell me if there is going to be enough food for chicks if there are any? One year Louis couldn't find any food and one year there was flooding, so hard to get fish. Just wondered if that is better this year.
We will have to wait and see.... Louis has a wife, so to speak, at another nest. So it's not about Louis not getting fish but rather it is about Iris is part-time to him. This stinks for Iris for all the obvious reasons that result in not having a full-time mate. She has been alone lots and lots which leads my heart to feel sad for her.... If she does have offspring, it will be SUPER hard on her once again, trying to do most everything herself. Sadly this won't change unless she becomes willing to accept a new suitor and chase Louis away... So far, it's not looking like this will happen. ~ I wish Louis well but wish more for Iris to get blessed with all the benefits a full-time mate would provide. She sure deserves one!! She has survived much, she is up there in age and yet, she remains a powerful fisher, a fierce protector, a fabulous nest renovator and a super mom. Oh heck yes, how I wish she would accept a new suitor and be helped and protected herself. She so needs a full time mate, totally devoted to her, this nest and any precious offspring-to-be.
So, are you telling me this is his “casa chica”?
@@sandrashaw6298 Iris es una novia por Louis, ella no es espousa. .... It's all very sad for Iris and for we who love her so....
Faaaaasinating Cornell Labs
😮
Poor Iris is having such a bad season.