Photo from the Field: Saving Osprey Nest #3591

Yesterday, while working on Barnegat Bay, we visited this natural nest that is behind the dyke inside Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. This is the third time we’ve passed by to monitor their success. So far, so good and it looks like they now have young in the nest. As you can see the nest is built in a precarious location on a sandbar. When the sandbar is exposed people can walk right up to the nest. Last year the pair did not raise young but people did still walk up to the nest. With young, the adults will be more defensive of their nest to protect their young.

We are working with NJ Parks and Forestry, NJ Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers, and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure the success of their nesting attempt. Ospreys are protected by the state Endangered Species Conservation Act and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which “prohibits the take or attempt to take any parts of a migratory bird, including its nest, eggs, or young. “Take” broadly means to “pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, purchase, transport.””  We are planning to monitor the nest frequently this summer and install signs (if needed) to educate people about the nesting ospreys. Their fate is in the hands of our boating community. The adults will dive bomb anyone who approaches so we can hope they they will succeed in driving off any attempts of curious onlookers to look into the nest…

If you boat in the area and see people approaching the nest then please explain to them that they should “share the shore” and give the ospreys the space they need. Thank you!