New Male Visits Iris At Hellgate Osprey Nest

It looks like Iris the Osprey may have a new suitor! Recently, an unknown male has been spotted spending time around the Hellgate Osprey nest with Iris. While it remains unclear if these two will form a breeding pair, he’s certainly giving it his best shot. Watch as this male attempts to mate with Iris for the first time on cam. She seems receptive, though he may be a young bird that’s navigating the challenges of the breeding season, including how to copulate effectively.

This new male’s arrival follows a whirlwind start to the 2025 breeding season for Iris, one of the world’s oldest known Ospreys. Her 2024 partner, Finnegan, did not return to the Hellgate Canyon nest in Missoula, Montana, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Prior to this mystery male’s arrival, Iris was mating with Louis, her former partner from 2018. However, he has shown little willingness to invest in the Hellgate nest in recent years after pairing up with a different female at another site downstream.

This season, Iris has already laid three eggs, but all were taken by Common Ravens while she was away foraging. Without a mate to help guard the nest or provide food, any eggs that Iris lays remain vulnerable to predation. Could this new male become the full-time partner Iris needs to attempt a successful breeding season? Follow their journey live on the Hellgate Osprey Cam.