Help Name Iris's New Mate At The Hellgate Osprey Nest!
Iris's new mate perches next to her as she incubates the eggs at the Hellgate Osprey nest.
There's a new male presiding over the Hellgate Osprey nest in Missoula, Montana. Iris, the cam’s longtime matriarch, has entered the 2026 breeding season with a new mate, currently known as NG2 (“New Guy 2”). This is the same male that she spent time with at the end of last season.
Staff and volunteers from the Montana Osprey Project and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have suggested five potential names for the new male, and now it’s up to the cam community to make the final decision.
Below are the five name options with their meanings explained:
- Clark - Named after the Clark Fork River, the waterway the Ospreys nest alongside.
- Jumbo - A nod to Mount Jumbo, the mountain overlooking Missoula and the nest site.
- Maverick - A name associated with independence and individuality.
- NG2 - The male’s original nickname, short for “New Guy 2.”
- Rio - Means “river” in Spanish and Portuguese, a tribute to the regions where many North American Ospreys spend the winter.
Cast your vote using the form on this page for the name you think suits the new male best. Voting closes at midnight nest time on Tuesday, June 2, so be sure to share the fun with friends and family before then. The winning name will be announced on June 3.
Everyone who votes will be entered to win a free course coupon for the Cornell Lab Bird Academy's self-paced, online Be a Better Birder: Hawk and Raptor Identification course. We'll randomly select three winners on June 3 from all who vote.