Osprey & Goose Nest at Rogers Place

A contested nest above the water

This platform sits on a private property adjacent to the refuge, one of two Osprey cams in the area. The nest is a coveted prize: long-distance migrant Ospreys return each April to find resident Canada Geese may have already claimed the structure, sparking a drawn-out tug-of-war over the site.

Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge

Set in the Mission Valley of western Montana, the refuge is a sprawling reservoir ringed by grassland and scattered towering trees. Its high density of nesting geese has pushed the birds into trees, old buildings, and every man-made platform they can find.

The Mission Mountains backdrop

The Mission Range forms a dramatic wall of granite along the eastern horizon, its snow-streaked summits mirrored in the calm refuge waters and framing every visit to the nest.

A window on the seasons

Ospreys are present from early April to October, while the geese hold the refuge year-round. Watch the quiet drama of raising young, defending territory, and the ceaseless traffic of waterfowl across this wide Montana wetland.