Swoop’s fish delivery for Winnie turned into a two-day nest story at the Dunrovin osprey nest in Lolo, Montana. On May 25, he brought her part of a large fish and took over incubation while she ate from the landing perch. By the next day, Swoop cleared the orange baling twine that had been sitting in the nest bowl.
The timing matters. Winnie and Swoop have three eggs beneath them, and the first estimated pip window begins in early June. With hatch watch approaching, Swoop’s morning pulls on the orange twine helped clear a risky piece of material before the nest enters its most delicate stretch.
Watch as Swoop brings Winnie part of a large fish before she leaves the nest to eat while he takes over incubation.
Winnie took the fish quickly after Swoop arrived. Instead of staying in the nest bowl to eat, she lifted off with the meal and carried it to a nearby tree. The camera zoomed toward her location, but she remained just beyond a clear view, tucked far enough away that the fish could not be seen in detail.
After spending some time in the tree, Winnie returned closer to the nest and settled on the wooden landing perch. From there, she continued tearing into the fish piece by piece while Swoop stayed below and kept the eggs covered.
Watch Live – Dunrovin Osprey nest cam
Swoop Incubates While Winnie Finishes Her Meal
The May 25 exchange showed the pair’s nesting routine working smoothly. Swoop delivered food, Winnie left the bowl to eat, and he settled over the clutch while she fed nearby. At this stage of the season, steady coverage is especially important as the hatch window moves closer.
Winnie finished the fish on the landing perch above the nest. Once the meal was done, she flew down and took over incubation again. The exchange was simple but important: food delivered, eggs covered, meal finished, and Winnie back on the bowl.
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Orange Twine Was Visible in the Nest Bowl
A piece of orange baling twine had also been visible in the nest bowl, adding a concerning detail to the late-incubation period. Ospreys regularly bring in sticks, grasses, bark, and other nesting materials, but manmade items can sometimes end up mixed into the structure.
Baling twine is worth noting because it can become dangerous if it wraps around an adult osprey’s foot, leg, or wing. It can also pose a risk to chicks once they hatch and begin shifting around inside the bowl. Loose string-like material is one of those small nest details that can become more important as the season advances.
Swoop Helps Clear the Orange Twine Before Hatch Watch
By 12:00 PM on May 26, 2026, the orange twine was gone from the nest bowl. Swoop appeared to hook it twice during the morning, pulling about half of it out each time. After the second pull, the remaining twine was no longer visible.
Swoop cleared the twine at a helpful time, just ahead of the expected hatch window. With the first possible pip dates approaching, the nest now has a cleaner bowl going into the next stage.
Now, the main thing to watch is whether Swoop or Winnie brings more twine or similar debris into the nest. Ospreys continue adding and rearranging material throughout the season, so conditions in the bowl can change quickly.
Three Eggs Are in the Dunrovin Osprey Nest
Winnie laid her first egg on May 2, 2026. The second followed on May 5, and she laid the third on May 8. With all three eggs now in the nest, incubation remains the central focus at Dunrovin.
The estimated pip and hatch windows below help frame where the nest stands in the season. The quiet stretch of incubation is now moving toward the point where pips, shell breaks, and hatching activity could begin soon.
Estimated Pip and Hatch Timeline
| Egg Number | Date Laid | Expected Pip Window | Expected Hatch Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egg #1 | May 2, 2026 | June 5 – June 9 | June 7 – June 11 |
| Egg #2 | May 5, 2026 | June 8 – June 12 | June 10 – June 14 |
| Egg #3 | May 8, 2026 | June 11 – June 15 | June 13 – June 17 |
This live cam experience is provided by daysatdunrovin.com. The video was recorded and shared by Red Wing on youtube.
FAQ
What happened at the Dunrovin osprey nest on May 25, 2026?
Swoop brought Winnie part of a large fish. Winnie carried it to a nearby tree, later returned to the landing perch to finish eating, and then came back to the nest bowl to resume incubation.
What happened to the orange twine in the nest bowl?
Swoop cleared the orange baling twine from the nest bowl by 12:00 PM on May 26, 2026. Swoop appeared to clear the orange twine by hooking it twice during the morning and pulled about half of it out each time until it was no longer visible.
Why can baling twine be dangerous in an osprey nest?
Baling twine can become dangerous if it wraps around an osprey’s foot, leg, or wing. It can also pose a risk to chicks once they hatch and begin moving around the nest bowl.
How many eggs are in Winnie and Swoop’s nest?
There are three eggs in the Dunrovin osprey nest. Winnie laid Egg #1 on May 2, Egg #2 on May 5, and Egg #3 on May 8, 2026.
When could the first Dunrovin osprey egg hatch?
Egg #1 has an estimated pip window of June 5 through June 9 and an estimated hatch window of June 7 through June 11.