Osprey Hatched in Missoula Spotted in Texas

MISSOULA, Mont. - Sally Mitchell, a birdwatcher from Rockport, Texas, spotted Emmitt, a Missoula-hatched Osprey, thousands of miles away from its birthplace. The bird was hatched in a nest at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.

The Missoula Osprey professional baseball team is the only team with a live mascot living in its natural habitat at the ballpark. During the summer, live osprey nest on a pole just beyond the centerfield fence. It is common to see the raptors flying around during games or perched on light poles or the scoreboard.

Jeff Griffin, Osprey Vice President/General Manager, said, "This is one of the most unique features in all of professional sports. We are very proud of our team name and having a mascot that lives at the ballpark in its natural habitat."

Mitchell recognized Emmitt by his blue leg band. University of Montana wildlife biology professor Erick Greene and his team tagged Emmitt as a chick with the designation "M8".

Greene runs the Montana Osprey Project and Mitchell was familiar with the project's two live webcams of osprey nests in the Missoula area.

The Raptor View Research Institute and Environmental Biogeochemistry Lab at the University of Montana started the project in 2006 to study osprey ecology and the effects of heavy metal contamination on the osprey.

Greene said it was rare to spot a banded osprey because about half of osprey chicks die after leaving the nest and many others migrate to more remote locations.

As the 2015 season nears, fans can look forward to seeing Emmitt at the ballpark.

Season tickets for the 2015 season are on sale at the MSO Hub Box Office. For more information, call the Osprey at 406-543-3300, stop by the MSO Hub Box Office, or visit the Osprey online at www.MissoulaOsprey.com.