Osprey Project
Conserve Wildlife Foundation plays an active role in helping to manage and protect Ospreys in New Jersey.
How to Construct an Osprey Platform
Osprey Platform Install
Ospreys: A Success Story (NJN video)
Late Summer Osprey Platform Install
New Jersey Osprey Project in 2011
2012 Osprey Project - A year in photosFlash and javascript Required
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DONATE to support this project:
You can view all known nests in New Jersey and report activity at a nest near your house on our partner's website, Osprey-watch.org
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.
Zoom+ Ben Wurst surveys a nest on Barnegat Bay while an adult ospreys watches overhead. © Northside Jim
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 - August 31.
To follow our work with ospreys, follow NJ Osprey Project on Facebook.
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 constructing and installing osprey nesting structures. We've consulting with individuals and contractors throughout the United States to help identify and install or repair osprey nesting structures.
In New Jersey, we work with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife to help manage and monitor a very large database of existing nesting structures. 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 (see Publications below), 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
Zoom+ In 2013 we released the locations of all known osprey nest sites in New Jersey. The purpose was to engage residents and collect data to help monitor our ospreys. Click here to view.
Report activity at nest sites
Since the beginning of the project annual nesting surveys have been completed to help track track the size of the population. Our methods for monitoring the population have changed over time. Today, instead of using helicopters to fly along our coast, which was very expensive in the later days (2000s), we use volunteers who can cover just as much area with very little funding. In 2013 we partnered with the Center for Conservation Biology who founded, Osprey Watch, a global osprey watching website. We released the location of over 800 nest sites in New Jersey. The goal for us was to use volunteers to report activity at nest sites during the osprey nesting season from April 1 to August 31. It was a huge success and a total of 542 nesting pairs were recorded. The next statewide census is planned for 2017.
Volunteer
Zoom+ We help maintain hundreds of osprey nesting platforms along the coast of NJ. Please make a donation today to help us keep them all in good condition!
Volunteers have been a very important component to the successful recovery of ospreys in New Jersey. We engage volunteers in all aspects of this conservation project. From constructing nesting platforms to installing them, we could use your help! Opportunities vary throughout the year and events occur on weekdays and weekends to help engage more people in our Osprey Project.
SPONSOR AN OSPREY PLATFORM
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 long term 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 New Jersey Osprey Project. For a small donation we will choose a suitable installation location and construct, transport, and install the platform. Donors are welcome and encouraged to help with all aspects of the project. 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 disappear 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.
 | Osprey Platform InstallFollow 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. Support our efforts to protect wildlife, make a donation today! |
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.
Marine Debris: A threat to ospreys, our indicator species
Ospreys use trash as nesting material because (sadly) it is a plentiful resource that collects in the upper areas of the saltmarsh. It is a deadly component of their nests that easily entangles them. Do your part and pick up litter if you see it. © Ben Wurst
We've all seen the negative effects that we can have on our environment. One that we've been passionate about documenting and raising awareness about is the occurance of plastic marine debris in osprey nests. Litter is almost everywhere and that includes active osprey nests. It winds up in the high marsh areas along our coast and that is where ospreys have always collected natural nesting material (sticks, eelgrass, muck, grasses and reeds). This new nesting material is not so safe for ospreys and their young. They can become easily entangled in ribbon from released balloons, monofilament from unwary fishermen, rope or twine, from lost crab pots or bait bags. For the past two years we've collected (and saved) trash we find in and around active nests. We're using this trash (aka marine debris) to use as a tool to help educate the public about this emerging threat to the ospreys and the health of our coastal ecosystem.
Please help us by sharing this blog post about the issue. To make the biggest impact, reduce the amount of trash you produce, reuse what you can’t recycle, recycle things that can be repurposed into new goods, and participate in local beach or stream cleanups! Thanks!!
TAKE ACTION!! ----> Download a fact sheet to learn more and share with your friends!
 | Ospreys, Plastics and Marine Debris Fact-sheet 2016 - 3.3MB |
Osprey Nests and Nest Removal Guidelines
Active and inactive nests cannot be removed without a state depredation permit in New Jersey. During the non-breeding season (from Sept 1 to March 31) you do not need a federal depredation permit but you still need the state depredation permit. A depredation permit is not required when some nesting material is removed under normal maintenance of the structure, but when nests (including platforms) are removed and/or excluders are placed (which essentially “removes the nest”) then a state depredation permit is required. We are working on a comprehensive set of guidelines for the installation and removal of osprey nests in New Jersey. It should be released in late March/early April.
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 on Facebook
- The International Osprey Foundation
- Arkive - Osprey information and AWESOME video of ospreys foraging!
Publications:
NEW:
| Osprey Nest Guidance in New Jersey - 1.1MB |
Existing:
| New Jersey Osprey Project Brochure - 4.0MB |
| Ospreys and Plastic Marine Debris - 3.3MB |
| Osprey Platform Construction Plans - 1.0MB |
| Adopt a Species - Osprey - 206.6KB |
Ben Wurst prepares to band a young osprey produced at a nest off High Bar, Barnegat Bay, NJ. This one of 62 young that were banded with a new red auxiliary band as part of Project RedBand. © Northside Jim | 2006 New Jersey Osprey Project - 138.4KB |
| 2007 New Jersey Osprey Project - 113.6KB |
| 2008 New Jersey Osprey Project - 210.6KB |
| 2009 New Jersey Osprey Project - 157.1KB |
| 2010 New Jersey Osprey Project - 178.0KB |
| 2011 New Jersey Osprey Project - 74.4KB |
| 2012 New Jersey Osprey Project Newsletter - 76.5KB |
| 2013 New Jersey Osprey Project Newsletter - 106.2KB |
| 2014 New Jersey Osprey Project Newsletter - 208.7KB |
| 2015 New Jersey Osprey Report - 2.1MB |
Zoom+ Photo essay in the The Sandpaper, Sept. 2014 covering Project RedBand. The Sandpaper
In the News:
December 2014/Early 2015:
- Boy Scouts help install osprey platforms in Ocean City - NJ.com
- Ospreys get a boost from Boy Scouts in Ocean City - AC Press
- New Jersey's osprey population continues to grow along coastal regions, report states - NJ.com
- New Jersey turning to citizen observers for osprey - Seattle Pi
- New Jersey's Ospreys Back from Near Extinction - Chinatopix.com
- Population of Ospreys Continues to Grow in New Jersey - Full-time Whistle
- New Jersey Osprey Population is Growing: Threatened Species Script Amazing Comeback - Tech Times
- Osprey population in New Jersey continues to bounce back - SMN Weekly
- NJ turning to citizen observes for osprey - MyFoxNY.com
- New Jersey Turns to Citizen Observers for Osprey - NBC40 Philadelphia
- Osprey population hits all-time high in New Jersey, study finds - Newsworks
- N.J. osprey monitoring to shift from scientists to citizens - Philly.com
- Osprey numbers on the rise in NJ says foundation - Courier-Post News
- Osprey population hits all-time high in New Jersey, study finds - Shore News Network
- Fall/Holiday Edition - Jersey Shore Magazine - Sandy's Impact on B. Bay - Sentinels of Sandy by Laura Kerwin
- June 28, 2013 - Asbury Park Press - Banding osprey nestlings at Island Beach State Park
- June 27, 2013 - Toms River Patch - Island Beach's Osprey receive tracking bands - video
- 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.
| The Sandpaper article - July 8, 2008 - 2.0MB |
| The Sandpaper article - September 17, 2008 - 915.1KB |
| The Sandpaper article - November 10, 2010 - 642.4KB |
Historic Documents:
| Osprey Egg Transplant Program a Success - NJ Outdoors 1974 - 987.8KB |
 | Ospreys: A Success Story (NJN video)The osprey was listed as endangered in 1974 after DDT and habitat loss decimated the population. The population dropped from 450-500 nesting pairs to only 53. Since the 70s the population has rebounded to historic levels. Here is a video of the New Jersey Osprey Recovery Project. |
Contact Us:
Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager: Email
609.628.2103
Project RedBand!
Ospreys are on the move south. Get out and look for some ospreys wearing red bands!
