Lightning, thunder and powerful winds transformed a quiet night at the Hellgate Osprey nest as Iris, Clark and young Wensi endured one of the season’s most dramatic storms, with flying sticks, driving rain and even part of the nest’s outer rail torn away.
On July 13, 2026, a Great Horned Owl appeared near the Hellgate Osprey family after dark. Iris launched into the night, made a warning pass and returned to watch over her chick.
At the Hellgate Osprey nest on July 5, 2026, Iris waited for fish, Clark arrived empty-handed, and one unforgettable nest exchange followed before their chick was finally fed.
On June 11, 2026, at the Hellgate Osprey nest in Missoula, Montana, the first Hellgate Osprey chick hatched after 38 days of waiting, giving Iris and Clark a hopeful new beginning.
Some osprey moments arrive with a fish, a fight, or a dramatic landing. Others arrive on a voice. That was…