Conserve Wildlife Blog

New Jersey Bald Eagles Soar to New Highs in 2019

September 9th, 2019

January 13, 2019, Mercer County Park. NJ D/99banded at Duke Farms in 2014 @Bob Cook

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ in partnership with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered & Nongame Species Program, is releasing results of the 2019 NJ Bald Eagle nesting season.

2019 was a record year for NJ eagles with the highest number of active nests and young fledged in the history of the project.  This year, 238 eagle nests were monitored, of which 189 were active (laid eggs) and 248 young fledged.  This is the highest number of fledges ever, surpassing the previous high of 216 in 2016.

Bald eagle nesting population and young produced in New Jersey, 1982-2019.

We owe the incredible amount of information about NJ eagle success to the NJ Eagle Project nest watchers.  An extremely dedicated group of approximately 85 volunteers monitor nests during the season, recording the important dates and watching for possible issues at nest sites.

This season two eagle cams were available to watch on the CWF website:  one at Duke Farms and another at Mercer County Parks.  The Duke Farms nest produced two chicks, and one was outfitted with a satellite transmitter; the movements of this eagle are on CWF’s Eagletrax website . 

More details on the 2019 nesting season will be available in the annual eagle report to be posted by December.  The report will include individual nest data, state totals, and eagle recoveries and resightings.

CWF partners with PSEG, the Mercer County Park Commission, Mercer County Wildlife Center, and Wildlife Center Friends and Duke Farms to protect bald eagles in New Jersey. Thank you to the Wakefern Food Corp./ShopRite Markets, Wells Fargo, Chemours and the American Eagle Foundation for additional eagle program funding.

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9 Responses to “New Jersey Bald Eagles Soar to New Highs in 2019”

  1. Always nice to see one of ours doing good and healthy

  2. Clare Luisi says:

    I am so proud to be counted among the Nest Observers. 248! How wonderful!

  3. Jill Brown says:

    Larissa,
    Is the Duke Farm fledgling total accurate?

  4. larissasmith says:

    Hi,
    Two chicks fledged from the Duke Farms nest in 2019.
    Larissa

  5. Heather Ryan says:

    Thanks for the amazing update! I look forward to seeing these juveniles throughout the fall. My fiancé and I love eagle watching. Last year we actually saw two mating-hoping to see if that nest produced.

  6. Red & Mary Jane Horner says:

    Having been volunteers since 1995, we find the current numbers absolutely awesome!! Looking back, it’s almost unbelievable, don’t think any of us involved in the early years could have foreseen such a comeback. Back in the 1950’s we never thought that, one day, we would see a Bald Eagle nest one block from our favorite Italian restaurant at the jersey shore. Now, THAT is really AWESOME!!! How far can we soar!

    KUDOS to the originators of the project back in the early 80’s. GOOD JOB!!

  7. Patrick McErlean says:

    How can I become a volunteer?
    Thank you Patrick McErlean

  8. Thanks for your interest Patrick – you can email Larissa Smith for information on volunteering – larissa.smith@conservewildlifenj.org.

  9. Darlene says:

    2019 was the first year I monitored our Ridgefield Park eagles. It’s an honor to monitor the nest and watch Al and Alice II. They did an AMAZING job; observed A & A II carrying in nesting material and branches sometimes the size of a small tree lol, doing “the switch,”and bringing in food for their babies. Seeing our “Bell Drive Babies” fledge was AWESOME! They have a very special place in my heart.