Conserve Wildlife Blog

Archive for the ‘Osprey Cam’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Twins! Two osprey eggs hatch overnight!

Tuesday, May 26th, 2015

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

Overnight two osprey eggs hatched at the Osprey Cam nest inside Edwin B. Forsythe NWR in Oceanville on day 40 of incubation. Ospreys exhibit asynchronous hatching or they hatch in the order they are laid. This ensures that the oldest and strongest young survive if there would ever be a shortage of prey. The third egg should hatch within the next 2 days.

You can tell when osprey eggs hatch by the behavior of the sitting adult. They sit higher, with their wings down and they are a bit more concerned with the young that sit beneath them. Young are born semi-altricial which means that they are downy and can open their eyes, but they require very close parental care.

Two osprey eggs hatched overnight on May 25-26th at Forsythe NWR in Oceanville.

Two osprey eggs hatched overnight on May 25-26th at Forsythe NWR in Oceanville.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Osprey Cam | Comments Off on Twins! Two osprey eggs hatch overnight!

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey “2014 Annual Report” Released

Friday, March 27th, 2015

CWF Releases its First Annual Report Ever Using a Story Map Format: “2014 Annual Report“

By David Wheeler, Executive Director

Technology has proven to be vital to Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s work protecting rare wildlife species over the years. Our biologists depend greatly on modern technologies to band, track, and share online the journeys of wildlife. Our webcams broadcast the most intimate behaviors of nesting birds and bats across the web. And we seek out ever-evolving communications technologies to spread the word about the inspiring stories of wildlife, from social media and infographs to e-books and Story Maps. These technologies offer newfound abilities to share complex data on multiple levels, while still incorporating the awe-inspiring photography and videos that bring wildlife’s stories to life.

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey is excited to offer our 2014 Annual Report in a unique format that utilizes one of those technologies – Story Maps. In the past year, we have explored the wonders of American oystercatchers with our first Story Map – and now the annual report allows all of our projects to be highlighted in this interactive format.

A screen capture of one of the pages of the CWF 2014 Annual Report Story Map.

A screen capture of one of the pages of the CWF 2014 Annual Report Story Map.

Visit the multiple pages within this Story Map to learn about Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s many projects and partnerships in 2014, and the imperiled wildlife species in need of our help. Find examples of the innovative and dedicated leadership of our biologists and volunteers. And take an online journey across the state to learn how our projects made a difference in all corners of New Jersey in 2014 – a great year for wildlife in the Garden State!

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in American oystercatcher, Amphibians, Bahamas Piping Plover Project, Bats, Beach Nesting Birds, Birds, Duke Farms eagle cam, Education, Events, Get Involved, Habitat Restoration, Invertebrates, Mapping, Osprey Cam, Outdoor Recreation, Raptors, Reptiles, Shorebirds, Volunteer Programs, Wildlife News, Wildlife Protection | Comments Off on Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey “2014 Annual Report” Released

Donations needed to see Osprey Cam nest at night!

Friday, March 20th, 2015
Help us raise $350 to purchase a new infrared light in the next 7 days. UPDATE – after only 2 hours we’ve raised enough to purchase the new IR!!

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

DARK: With no infrared we will not be able to watch the osprey cam nest at night.

DARK: With no infrared we will not be able to watch the osprey cam nest at night.

UPDATE: I couldn’t be happier right now! We raised more then twice that we needed to replace the IR light at the osprey cam nest! Thank you so much to all of the generous donors who gave to support this amazing project!! Any additional funds that we get will be restricted for future Osprey Cam repairs. We’ll be sure to post an update when we go out to install the new light. –Ben

This might be the new night time view of the Osprey Cam nest at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The infrared light is currently not working and we need a replacement. If we do not get a new light installed in the next two weeks then we will not be able to view the osprey nest at night this season. 🙁

You would think it would be easy to replace the unit… Not so much. The Raytek i2 infrared illuminator is currently on back-order from our supplier (we have already had one on order for our new Hawk Cam) and we cannot get an advanced replacement from the manufacturer. Now we need to purchase one from another distributor as soon as possible.

With your support we will be able to purchase and install the new illuminator before the osprey pair starts nesting in mid-April. We need to raise a total of $350 to purchase the light. Big or small, your donation will help make sure that the osprey cam streams into the many homes and classrooms 24/7 during the nesting season! Thank you!!

In other news, the female returned to the nest yesterday!


Tags: , , ,
Posted in Osprey Cam | Comments Off on Donations needed to see Osprey Cam nest at night!

Osprey Cam = Fixed!

Tuesday, October 21st, 2014
Osprey Cam at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR is back online!
Thumbs up! Osprey Cam is back online.

Thumbs up! Osprey Cam is back online.

The Osprey Cam inside Edwin B. Forsythe NWR is back online! Yay!! The source of the problem with the camera dying right when the young were ready to fledge, is with the network switch. Apparently it can’t handle the high heat inside the equipment box. Either way it turned off at the worst possible time! This fall/winter we’ll be working on a fix for the problem. We’ll also be looking to enhance the camera experience. Now that the birds are somewhat used to the camera setup, we’re thinking of installing the PTZ camera right off the nest. It’ll give us great close ups of the adults and nestlings! More news to come. For now you can keep an eye our for wintering peregrine falcons, bald eagles and any other birds that might perch on the platform!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Osprey Cam | Comments Off on Osprey Cam = Fixed!

Osprey Chick Banding – An Unforgettable Experience

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

by Brooke Sambol

Photography by Eric Sambol

Osprey close up (c) Eric Sambol

Osprey close up (c) Eric Sambol

The other day, my dad and I got the chance to accompany CWF biologist, Ben Wurst, on an osprey-banding excursion – him for photography, and me for the experience.

At 6 am, we set out on a small boat in Tuckerton, New Jersey. Through the salt marshes, we visited each nest for Ben to take notes on the ospreys occupying them. When the conditions were right , he could also band the chicks.

Ospreys are truly beautiful birds, magnificent to behold, and even more so up close. I was fortunate enough to hold one chick while Ben attached a band around its ankle.

Brooke Sambol holding an Osprey (c) Eric Sambol

Brooke Sambol holding an Osprey (c) Eric Sambol

Over the years, CWF has played a major role in osprey monitoring and species rehabilitation. The work they’ve done has really paid off. Due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT during the 1970’s, osprey populations in New Jersey plummeted from over 500 nests to just 50 nests. Since then, biologists, including those from CWF have implemented an intensive osprey rehabilitation project.

This included the replacing of healthy osprey eggs from Maryland into DDT-weakened New Jersey nests, the building of hundreds of osprey nest boxes along the coast, and diligent monitoring.

In 2013, biologists counted 405 nesting osprey pairs. The success is monumental, and a testament to the change that can occur through science and dedication.

Brook Sambol is a Coastal Wildlife Intern with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey

Tags: , ,
Posted in Osprey Cam | Comments Off on Osprey Chick Banding – An Unforgettable Experience

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »