Conserve Wildlife Blog

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR Osprey Banding

June 26th, 2014

Three nestlings produced at the Osprey Cam nest are banded for future tracking!

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

In the late afternoon of June 24, 2014, I kicked off the 2014 Osprey Nesting Surveys by banding the three nestings at the Osprey Cam nest. I was joined by Ann Marie Mason Morrison, with Friends of Forsythe NWR, our founding partner with the Osprey Cam, and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interns, Jessie and Kirsten who helped bring out all the equipment needed to the nest (two 20′ ladders).

This is one of the most difficult nests to reach in all of New Jersey! It either takes a boat (at high tide) or two 20′ ladders (at low tide) to cross a 15′ wide ditch on the coastal salt marsh. Anyone who has crossed the ditch can attest to how difficult it is. Now you can watch and see what when into banding these three nestlings. A portion of the video was cut when I was attempting to repair the sound at the camera equipment box. At the same time the nest was cleaned of harmful plastic debris that the birds used as nesting material. A total of 3 balloons and a plastic bag were removed from the nest. The three young were banded with USGS bird bands (1088-04358,59 & 60) for future tracking. Check out a photo that I got of “the runt.” Enjoy!

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6 Responses to “Edwin B. Forsythe NWR Osprey Banding”

  1. colleen fresco says:

    Thank you so much for recording this video, so that others can see what you do. It was so interesting to see what you go through to band these Osprey babies. The littlest one is a feisty one for sure!! Forsythe is one of my favorite places for birding. This year I helped to band shorebirds in Cape May and I was also privileged to accompany a group of biologists and volunteers while they banded an bald eagle. Thank you for all that you do to protect these beautiful birds. It is wonderful to see these Osprey thriving and to see you ensuring that they continue to do so.

  2. Irmgard Tews Marocke says:

    Ben Wurst,all the Volunteers
    THANK YOU,FORyour commitment to this project
    jimbowie for your tireless respons thank you

  3. Norma Nelson says:

    What a wonderful opportunity to be able to watch you do your wonderful work. That little guy sure was a brave one!

    Thanks for all you do.

  4. Ben says:

    Yes, this nest is by far the hardest to get to out of all that I check. Thanks so much for support! We’re glad you liked “our view” of the osprey banding at Forsythe!

  5. Ben says:

    You’re welcome! Thanks so much for watching the cam! Yes, Jim has done a great job as a camera controller and moderator on the Interact page this year!

  6. Ben says:

    Thanks, Norma!