Photo from the Field: Spout Off! Osprey Platform Repair

by Ben Wurst / Senior Wildlife Biologist

We always go out of our way to help provide ospreys with safe, suitable nest sites. This has been our mission since we began working with them over 15 years ago and has helped the population surpass the historic population estimate of over 500 nesting pairs. Our loyal New Jersey Osprey Project volunteers follow this same principal — always on the lookout for damaged nest platforms — to take meaningful action.

This often entails repairing work by others, who have installed nest platforms themselves. It’s a big component of osprey recovery, where individuals have provided safe nest sites for them. Though, they often don’t come back when repairs or replacement are needed. This is where we step in.

Thankfully, one of our volunteers, Matt Tribulski in Cape May County noticed a SPOUT OFF! in the Cape May Herald about a leaning osprey nest platform. He already knew about the platform being in bad shape but it was still a productive nest. After Thanksgiving, he reached out and formulated a plan to replace this old, leaning platform, which was on a very small island in Wildwood. The platform was made and donated by Hanna Toft and her students at Cape May County Technical School. We had perfect weather for the early winter osprey platform installation.

We’re thankful for our donors, volunteers and those in the community who speak up when they see a platform that’s damaged or in need of repair. You can reach out to me via email or through our website.

>> Learn more and donate to support our work with ospreys