The Sandpoint Osprey Cam at Memorial Field

Hello! Welcome to the Sandpoint, Idaho osprey cam, watching the nest at Memorial Field.
See more below, and join the live chat.

The Sandpoint Osprey Cam is a collaboration of the City of Sandpoint and Sandpoint Online, with major support donated by Avista and Ting. Consulting biologist is Janie Veltkamp of Birds of Prey Northwest. Maintenance help by Sandpoint Fire Department. Technical help donated by Video Security Technology. See more below about the project’s many other supporters. To all… thank you!

This project is sponsored by the following partners:

Welcome to the Sandpoint Online Osprey Cam

Located at the Sandpoint, Idaho, War Memorial Field on Lake Pend Oreille, the osprey cam here was first installed in Autumn 2011 on a nest atop field lights that had been used historically by ospreys for several decades. During field renovations in 2020, the nest was moved to its own lakeside pole.

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No tax money is used for cam operations. Contributions are gratefully accepted to help defray operational costs. Want to help?



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The Memorial Field Ospreys

Memorial Field is home an active osprey nest – as well as scores of community events each year, from soccer, baseball and football games to the annual Festival at Sandpoint summertime music series. From early spring, when the ospreys arrive in Sandpoint following their migration from Central and South America, until they head south in autumn, the ospreys are a ubiquitous presence at the field – occasionally upstaging the human events as they return to their nests carrying a squirming fish, or circle with their distinctive, whistling calls.

Osprey biology

Lake Pend Oreille is an important nesting area for osprey, and these unique birds of prey have legions of fans among residents and visitors. They are the only raptors that eat fish exclusively, and they are consummate fishermen – putting on a thrilling show as they hover over the water, then plummet down and dive completely under to grab fish. Ongoing information provided on this page about osprey biology is provided by Janie Veltkamp of Birds of Prey Northwest. Also, Sandpoint Online’s official Nestwatcher, Robin Werner, provides and curates daily posts on the Sandpoint Osprey Nest Friends Facebook page (requires joining the group).

The nest cam project

The opportunity to place a web cam on the Memorial Field nest arose when the city undertook replacement of the aging light poles at the field in Autumn 2011. Two of the old poles held nests that ospreys had built directly on the light arrays, a hazardous arrangement as the lights can get very hot during evening events. Their replacement poles were built with nesting platforms above the lights. Subsequently, in Spring 2020 as part of major field renovations, a new pole was erected just for the osprey nest, in a location near the field’s boat ramp, more proximate to the lake. This cam project is a collaboration among many supporters. It was proposed to the City of Sandpoint Parks Department by staff at
Keokee media + marketing, which produces Sandpoint Online, and embraced by then-director Kim Woodruff and parks staff. The cam, network and computer equipment, plus implementation and management of the streaming video, are provided by Sandpoint Online. The city’s utility partner, Avista, provides critical financial and infrastructure support. The firefighters with the Sandpoint Fire Department provide essential maintenance at the nest each year. Ting is providing the high-bandwidth Internet connection through its new fiber optic network in Sandpoint. Kerry Berg of Video Security Technology in Sandpoint provides the camera equipment installation. Raptor biologist Janie Veltkamp of Birds of Prey Northwest, a raptor conservation and rescue group based in St. Maries, is consulting as biologist for the project. Many others have contributed, including Lake Pend Oreille Cruises, sponsoring fundraisers; Ron’s Electric staff providing electrical service; local birder Rich DelCarlo; architect Sean Fitzpatrick; and Bob Anderson of the Raptor Resource Project providing initial advice.

Sandpoint Osprey Nest Observations
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Birdie
2025-04-01 05:20:44pm PST
The geese actually helped the nest some better as far as it looks more built up, they could leave now and whatever Keo brings they could end up with a nice nest!
👍 1
Linda
2025-04-01 07:01:57pm PST
If the geese become the residents perhaps money can be saved by shutting off the internet service for a couple months. We can all watch other nests.
👍 1
Kimm
2025-04-01 07:02:27pm PST
No sign of osprey in CDA that I can see. The cam on the south nest is still pointed to the ground so I don't know if that nest has geese in it too. The male still hangs out on the center and a goose is nesting on the north nest.
👍 1
Robin
2025-04-01 07:03:11pm PST↳ Replying to Linda
I'm not sure, but I think the internet is donated?
Robin
2025-04-01 07:03:51pm PST↳ Replying to Kimm
When you say male, do you mean the male that goes with the female on the other nest? Gosh, talk about nest hogs!
👍 1
Kimm
2025-04-01 07:04:34pm PST↳ Replying to Robin
yes, he just hangs out sitting on the wire screen.
Robin
2025-04-01 07:16:42pm PST
I thought that was weird for a goose to be on the screen without laying on eggs, it makes sense now that it is the male...
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October 14

Our Nestwatcher Robin Werner provides this final word on the 2020 season for our osprey family.

New fledgling Bonner asks: “What do you mean I have to get my own fish now?”