Nj 2008 Osprey Project Report
The 2008 Osprey Project in New Jersey
Prepared by Kathleen Clark and Benjamin Wurst
Endangered and Nongame Species Program
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and
The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
In 2008, right in the middle of the nesting season New Jersey saw one of the strongest nor’
eastern coastal storms in a long time. The storm hit on May 12th and had wind gusts to almost
60mph and major coastal flooding. Surprisingly that storm did not cause lasting damage to the
osprey nesting season. The results of this season’s ground surveys were amazing.
In late June and early July volunteers and staff surveyed all major nesting colonies along the
Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay. Surveyors visited or observed a total of 286 nests this year, a
good portion of the 400+ pair population. Data from 240 known-outcome nests (185 on the
Atlantic Coast and 55 on Delaware Bay) was recorded. Productivity averaged 1.87 young per
active nest, roughly twice the minimum reproductive rate required to maintain a stable
population. That translates to 448 young produced from 240 known-outcome nests – an all time
(post-DDT) high. Our staff and volunteers banded an amazing 357 nestlings, more than any
other year. These bird bands will pay off in the future as ospreys are encountered in New Jersey
and at migration and wintering sites across the hemisphere.
In late April and early May when ospreys were laying and starting to incubate, weather was mild
with average temperatures around 55-60°F. In mid-May we experienced that very strong
nor’easter that brought heavy rains for two days and high winds. During hatching in late May
and early June, temperatures were also mild. May had more precipitation than normal, while
June was normal. During ground surveys, banders reported healthy young that appeared well fed.
This year more nests resulted in failure (15%) than last year, but this is within the normal range
for annual nest failures. Overall, failures were offset by high productivity rates in nests that
succeeded.
Thirty-eight new nest structures were erected or discovered in 2008: more than half (21) were
occupied, and fourteen produced 25 young. In typical fashion for NJ (and the East), most
ospreys nested on man-made single-post structures (77%) and channel markers (5%), while only
a few nested on antiquated 4-post nest platforms (3%). The occurrence of ospreys nesting on
cell towers (1%) fluctuates from year to year, but that’s a structure favored by inland-nesting
ospreys. Other nests can be found on transmission towers (3%), duck blinds (3%), and in dead
trees (2%).
In some areas of the state where nest platforms are limited, ospreys try to build nests on many
different structures including lighting poles on sports fields, weather stations, telephone poles,
cranes, houses, and almost anything tall and stable. We are working closely with the Conserve
Wildlife Foundation of NJ (CWF) to use private donations to fund nest platform and habitat
restoration projects along the Atlantic Coast. In the last three years, over forty nest platforms
have been built and installed with private donations to CWF. We have also been gaining more
publicity for the project by working with local newspapers; with their help, citizens learn the
scope of the project how their contributions help.
Endangered and Nongame Species Program
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
Tuckahoe Field Station, 2201 Route 631, Woodbine, NJ 08270
The statewide census is scheduled for 2009: we will attempt to count all active nests during
aerial and ground surveys. The surveys will cover all known nests (we maintain a detailed
database and mapping), but sightings of new nests are welcome to ensure a complete count.
The last census, in 2006, just reached 400 pairs.
Project Staff: Kathy Clark, Ben Wurst, Michael Davenport, Todd Pover, Larissa Smith, Kris
Schantz
Thanks to: Pete McLain, Jane and Peter Galetto, Giselle and John Smisko, Hans Toft, Don and
Karen Bonica, Elmer and Bunny Clegg, Dr. Stephen Wurst, Ed Hazard, Tom Virzi, John Healy,
Jon Dean, Pat Sutton, Don Krider, Roberta Puican, Helen Swanson, Bernie Tice, Fred Akers-
Great Egg Harbor Watershed Assoc., Dr. Erica Miller-Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Damon
Noe-The Nature Conservancy, Jeanne Heuser-Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation
Area, Patricia Korotky-Cattus Island Park-Ocean County Parks, Joe Reynolds-Monmouth
County Parks, Bill Schultz-Raritan Riverkeeper, Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River
and its Tributaries, Jim Faczak-Cheesequake State Park; Atlantic County Utilities Authority,
Island Beach State Park, Kevin Holcomb & Vinny Turner-Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge,
Toms River Avian Care, Barnegat Animal Clinic, The Raptor Trust, Nancy Eriksen & Jackie
Parker-AmerGen-Oyster Creek Generating Station, K. Strait of PSE&G-Salem, NJ-NY
Baykeeper, NJ Audubon, Bill Clarke, and all other donors and volunteers who assist with and
support the project.
Thanks to everyone who contributes to the Endangered and Nongame Species Program
through the Check-Off for Wildlife on their NJ State Income Tax, and by buying
Conserve Wildlife License Plates!
An adult osprey showing its aggression by dragging its feet in the water while its young
were being banding. (Photo courtesy of Damon Noe/TNC)
Endangered and Nongame Species Program
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
Tuckahoe Field Station, 2201 Route 631, Woodbine, NJ 08270
Table 1. Osprey nesting and productivity in 2008 in all major nesting areas. Productivity
determined by ground surveys in June-July. Productivity rates in 2005-2007 provided for
comparison.
Previous Yrs.
Known-
# Nests
Outcome
Production
Nesting Area
Surveyed
Nests
# Young
# Banded
2008
2007 2006 2005
Delaware River & North
Jersey
n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.00 n/a
Raritan Bay area
(w/Cheesequake)
20
15
25
9
1.67 1.38 1.35 1.91
Barnegat Bay
17
12
27
16
2.25
2.06
n/a
n/a
Sedge Islands WMA
24
20
35
22
1.75
1.15
1.57
1.33
Great Bay to Atlantic
City
30
21
42
40
2.00 1.95 1.56 1.91
Great Egg Harbor/Ocean
City
42
36
62
53
1.72 1.52 1.65 1.44
Sea Isle City
13
11
17
10
1.55 1.75 2.10 1.22
Avalon/Stone Harbor
Bays
47
38
67
56
1.76 1.93 1.64 1.28
Wildwood Bays & Cape
May
34
32
60
51
1.88 1.89 1.89 1.89
Maurice River & Estuary
Marshes
48
45
95
93
2.11 2.07 1.84 1.37
Salem Co./ Artificial
Island / Delaware
11
10
18
7
1.80 1.70 2.00
n/a
Other-Atlantic (no area
designation)
n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.29
n/a
TOTAL of Study Areas
286 240 448 357 1.87
1.78 1.66 1.54
Atlantic Coast only
227
185
335
257
1.81
1.72
1.74
1.53
Delaware Bay only
59
55
113
100
2.05
2.00
2.06
1.37
Total Statewide (survey)
400
Endangered and Nongame Species Program
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
Tuckahoe Field Station, 2201 Route 631, Woodbine, NJ 08270
400
1.8
350
1.6
1.4
300
s
st
1.2
250
i
t
y
i
v
1.0
200
0.8
r
oduct
P
Number of Ne
150
0.6
100
0.4
50
0.2
0
0.0
84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08
Year
# Nests
Productivity
Minimum Productivity
Figure 1. Osprey nesting population (bar) and productivity (heavy line) 1984-2008 in New
Jersey. Productivity in 2008 was at its highest recorded level.
Endangered and Nongame Species Program
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
Tuckahoe Field Station, 2201 Route 631, Woodbine, NJ 08270
