Did you know:

A pair of ospreys can make over 100 trips a day to collect nesting material.

Osprey Project

Conserve Wildlife Foundation plays an active role in helping to manage and protect Ospreys in New Jersey.

Videos
- How to Construct an Osprey Platform
- Osprey Platform Install

Slideshow
- New Jersey Osprey Project in 2011

Image of Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager, checks a nest inside Great Bay Blvd. Wildlife Management Area, Little Egg Harbor.

Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager, checks a nest inside Great Bay Blvd. Wildlife Management Area, Little Egg Harbor. © Bill Steiner

Historically, before the effects of DDT caused the state's osprey population to decline, over 500 osprey nests could be found along New Jersey's coastline. By 1974 only 50 nests remained. The effects of DDT in the food chain caused reproduction to fail, and habitat was lost with a burgeoning shore population that eliminated many trees and increased ground predator populations. In New Jersey the osprey was listed as endangered in 1974 by the state. Recovery began when DDT use was banned in 1968 in New Jersey. Biologists began to place young and eggs from nests where DDT was not used as heavily into nests that failed to produce young, year after year. Then they coordinated efforts to supply man-made nest platforms for the birds. These new artificial nest platforms replaced the snags and trees that were lost as the barrier islands became more developed.

Historically, before the effects of DDT caused the state's osprey population to decline, over 500 osprey nests could be found along New Jersey's coastline. By 1974 only 50 nests remained.

By 1986 the osprey population had surpassed 100 pairs, sparking the decision to upgrade their status to threatened in the state. Since that time, the Endangered and Nongame Species Program staff has worked to monitor and manage the population, tracking their nest success every year with a core group of volunteers, and censusing the population every three years. In 2006 the NJ osprey population hit a new post-DDT record of just over 400 active nests, not far below the estimated historic population of 450 to 500 nests. In 2009, 486 nesting pairs were found and in 2011 biologists decided the postpone the next aerial survey until 2013.

Image of Osprey nestlings have buff feather tips and an orange iris. They fledge 7-8 weeks after they hatch and migrate south in late August - early September.

Zoom+ Osprey nestlings have buff feather tips and an orange iris. They fledge 7-8 weeks after they hatch and migrate south in late August - early September. © Eric Sambol

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ plays an active role in helping to manage and protect the statewide population of ospreys. It is our goal to help the population recover to the historic level of over 500 nesting pairs. Our Osprey Project seeks to raise private funding through donations, fund-raising campaigns, platform sponsorships, and educational presentations to help ospreys in New Jersey. We also sponsor Eagle Scouts with projects that seek to install osprey platforms along coastal areas of New Jersey.

Since 2004, we have installed over 100 nesting platforms throughout New Jersey, most in areas where suitable habitat exists with few nesting structures. We have concentrated most of our work on Barnegat Bay, Little Egg Harbor, and Great Bay. We work very closely with the Endangered and Nongame Species Program and assist with osprey surveys and nestling banding during the nesting season from April 1 - September 31.

To follow our work with ospreys, check out the New Jersey Osprey Project blog or Follow NJ Osprey Project on Facebook.

Image of Since 2006 we have installed over 50 nesting platforms for ospreys in New Jersey. We can provide maps and additional resources for individuals and Eagle Scouts wishing to construct and install osprey platforms.

Zoom+ Since 2006 we have installed over 50 nesting platforms for ospreys in New Jersey. We can provide maps and additional resources for individuals and Eagle Scouts wishing to construct and install osprey platforms. © CWF

HOW WE CAN HELP

We offer technical assistance to private consulting firms, individuals, school groups, environmental commissions, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and anyone else who is interested in building and constructing osprey nesting structures. We work with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife to help manage and monitor a very large database of existing nesting structures throughout New Jersey. We can help you choose the most suitable location to place a platform so it will not negatively impact any other species that live in the coastal area of the state.

We can provide maps, platform plans, and in some cases an actual platform. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information or if you have a question.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

SPONSOR AN OSPREY PLATFORM

Image of Volunteers stand in front of a new osprey platform that was installed in Fortescue, NJ.

Zoom+ Volunteers stand in front of a new osprey platform that was installed in Fortescue, NJ. © Ben Wurst

Do you live near suitable osprey habitat (generally any open area near water) in the coastal zone of New Jersey? Are you interested in supporting the recovery of ospreys in New Jersey?

If so, we can use your support! Since 2007, CWF has been collecting private donations from individuals, civic groups, organizations, and businesses to install, repair, and/or replace artificial nesting platforms for ospreys to support the Osprey Project. For a small donation we will choose a suitable platform location, construct, transport, and install the platform. The donor will be fully involved in the process from helping to install the platform to assisting with the banding of the nestlings (if and when the platform becomes occupied). Contact Ben if you'd like to sponsor an osprey platform.

ADOPT AN OSPREY PLATFORM

Each year more and more platforms become damaged or even diappear during the winter months. With this new program individuals can "adopt" an existing osprey nest platform. Your donation will make sure this platform stays in pristine condition. If it ever become damaged or needs repair, we'll be there to do the work. Contact Ben for more information about this new program.

Osprey Platform Install

Follow along while Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ and two of his friends volunteer to help install an osprey platform off Long Beach Island on Barnegat Bay in 2010.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Schedule an educational "New Jersey Osprey Project" presentation, which covers Osprey identification, life history, project history, human impacts, and surveying techniques. This is a great program for schools, civic organizations and scouting groups.

Learn More:

Osprey information including identification, life history, habitat, and current threats
Artificial nesting platform placement guidance and information. Includes detailed information on how to select the proper location for a platform.
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program
New Jersey Osprey Project Blog
New Jersey Osprey Project on Facebook
The International Osprey Foundation

Publications:

New:

2011 New Jersey Osprey Project - 74.4KB
Annual newsletter that reports findings and results from the year's osprey survey. The osprey population had a banner year in 2011. 612 young were produced and average productivity was just over 2 young/nest.

Guidelines for Maintenance at Communication Towers that Support Raptor Nests in New Jersey - 58.2KB
This publication is meant to be a guide for companies that manage and maintain communication towers in New Jersey that support raptor nests. It offers key points of contact with NJ Fish and Wildlife and CWF and offers information on what to do when you encounter an active osprey or eagle nest throughout the year.

Existing:

Osprey platform plans - 856.8KB
Placement guidelines, material list, and plans to construct a nesting platform for ospreys.

Adopt a Species - Osprey - 206.6KB
Detailed information about Ospreys in New Jersey.

2006 New Jersey Osprey Project - 138.4KB
Annual newsletter that reports findings and results from the year's osprey survey. In 2006, the population reached 400 pairs, a post-DDT milestone, and not far from the historic estimates of over 500 pairs. The combination of abundant prey and mild weather created favorable conditions for ospreys.

2007 New Jersey Osprey Project - 113.6KB
Annual newsletter that reports findings and results from the year's osprey survey. The population has grown by 61% from 1997-2006. Good weather allowed for successful nesting this year.

2008 New Jersey Osprey Project - 210.6KB
Annual newsletter that reports findings and results from the year's osprey survey. A very strong Nor'easter hit in the middle of May, when many ospreys were incubating, but it did not cause many failures. Ospreys had another great year in 2008.

2009 New Jersey Osprey Project - 157.1KB
Annual newsletter that reports findings and results from the year's osprey survey. Aerial surveys this year found 485 nesting pairs in 2009! It was another record year for ospreys. 547 young were produced from 345 nesting pairs.

2010 New Jersey Osprey Project - 178.0KB
Annual newsletter that reports findings and results from the year's osprey survey. The osprey population had a banner year in 2010. Just over 600 young were produced and average productivity was 2 young/nest.

Zoom+ New Jersey Osprey Project in the news! Cover of The Sandpaper, June 8th, 2011. Courtesy of The Sandpaper

In the News:

June 8th, 2011 - The SandPaper - Humans Help Ospreys Soar by Juliet Kaszas-Hoch

November 2010 Explorations eMagazine article - Return of the Osprey by Ben Wurst

November 11, 2010 - Building a bigger bird house. Shore News Today. by Marjorie Preston.

March 16th, 2009 Babeled.com: Installing Osprey Nest Platforms. by Jack Gamble

January 29th, 2009 Babeled.com: Building Osprey Nest Platforms: A step-by-step guide. by Greg Molyneux

The Sandpaper article - July 8, 2008 - 2.0MB
Read an article by Angela Anderson about our efforts to help the osprey population recover to historic levels.

The Sandpaper article - September 17, 2008 - 915.1KB
Read an article by Angela Anderson and see photos of osprey platforms that were installed in Loveladies in Fall 2008.

The Sandpaper article - November 10, 2010 - 642.4KB
An article by Angela Anderson about the record year for ospreys in 2010.

Historic Documents:

Osprey Egg Transplant Program a Success - NJ Outdoors 1974 - 987.8KB
Here is an article from the September/October edition of New Jersey Outdoors magazine in 1974 written by Pete McLain and Teddy Schubert. The article highlights the early conservation work done to help restore the endangered population of ospreys in NJ.

Contact Us:

Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager: Email

609.628.2103

Find Related Info: Osprey, Raptors

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