As snowstorms and frigid temperatures take over New Jersey, I’ve been thinking a lot about how our beach nesting birds are doing in their more southern (and hopefully much warmer!) wintering grounds. Thanks to recorded sightings of banded birds, we’ve been able to learn a significant amount about American oystercatcher movement and track birds to their wintering locations. In this Re-sight Round Up, we’re catching up with three of CWF’s recently banded American oystercatchers to see how they’re spending the cold winter months.
Lift off. 04/M takes off from a channel marker nest on Barnegat Bay.
During our osprey nest surveys we are always looking for auxiliary banded birds. Last summer over 40 red banded ospreys were re-sighted, which is the most ever encountered in a single year. The majority were breeding birds, photographed on their nests and others were photographed in flight or perched, often with prey. Some were even re-sighted several times throughout the year.
Duke Farms eagle incubates their three egg clutch, despite the snow surrounding the egg bowl 1_26_26
The Duke Farms eagle pair are the stars of their own reality show. The pair has a huge following who tune in each season to watch with anticipation as the pair lays eggs and wait for hatching and fledging. This cam views a pair of eagles on Duke Farms property in Hillsborough, New Jersey. Duke Farms has hosted the cam since 2008. Over the years there has been drama and heartbreak at the nest, but despite this viewers tune in to watch the pair every year. To learn about the history of the cam please see the Conserve Wildlife Foundations Duke Farms webpage and scroll down to Duke Farms Eagle Cam FAQ’s
This year the female laid the first egg on January 12th, the earliest for the Duke Farms pair and one of the earliest eagle pairs in NJ in 2026 to begin incubation. The second egg was laid on January 15th and a third egg was laid in the snow on January 18th.
The female laid her third egg during a snowstorm 1-18-2026
Eagle cam viewers watched in amazement as the pair incubated during the recent snow and ice storm.
Nest monitor, Diane Cook, writes informative and interesting updates on the Duke Farms pair. Some of the updates include, “Eggs and Cold Winter Weather” and “How to tell the male and female apart”. When on the CWF Duke Farms cam scroll down to the 2026 Nest Updates
Eagles incubate the eggs for 35-40 days and the eggs hatch in the order in which they were laid. Cam viewers can start to watch for hatching around February 16th.
When will the first egg hatch contest
Conserve Wildlife Foundation is holding a contest to guess when the first egg will hatch. The person who guesses the closest date and time to when the chick is fully out of the egg shell will win a CWF hat and eagle sticker.
Please email Larissa.Smith@conservewildlifenj.org with your guess of date and time am or pm.
All entries must be submitted by February 13th at 12pm
Thank you to Duke Farms and all the eagle cam viewers.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is circulating once again this winter and has already been confirmed in New Jersey in Canada geese, Snow geese, and Bald eagles. This virus primarily affects birds and can spread quickly among species that congregate in large numbers or come into close contact with one another.
Waterfowl and raptors — especially scavengers like bald eagles — are particularly vulnerable. Eagles are often exposed when feeding on infected waterfowl or carcasses, which increases the risk of illness and mortality. Monitoring and reporting cases is critical for tracking the spread of the disease and protecting both wildlife and domestic animals.
Members of the public are urged to report sick or dead birds, especially waterfowl and raptors.
Sick or dead bald eagles should be reported immediately to the NJDEP at 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).
Please remember that precautions should always be taken when encountering sick or dead birds, particularly during the winter months. Avoid direct contact whenever possible. If handling is unavoidable, wear a face mask and disposable gloves, and be sure to disinfect boots and equipment afterward.
Staying informed and reporting observations helps wildlife agencies respond effectively and protects New Jersey’s birds during this ongoing outbreak. For more information, visit the NJ Department of Agriculture’s HPAI page.
Eastern Tiger Salamander 11/22/25 photo by Tony Klock
This time of year most wildlife is hunkering down for the winter either in New Jersey or migrating to southern destinations until the next breeding season. One New Jersey salamander is just getting started, The Eastern Tiger Salamander(ETS) is the largest salamander species found in New Jersey and a state Endangered species. ETS are found in only a few locations in southern NJ. Conserve Wildlife Foundation works with the NJ Endangered and Nongame Species program to monitor ETS breeding pools and populations. ETS spend most of their adult lives in underground borrows they will emerge to breed on warm wet nights beginning in December through February. The females lay egg masses in vernal pools and then return to their burrows. CWF’s website has detailed information on the ETS lifecycle
ENSP Senior Zoologist Bill Pitts and Darby Brant install a water gauge at a ETS breeding pool.
Off road vehicle disturbance to a ETS breeding pool.
These vernal breeding pools are a necessity for the ETS population to survive in New Jersey. In 2025 due to low water levels from a drought, only a few of the deeper breeding pools had enough water for ETS breeding activity. These breeding pools not only face threats from climate change but also from pollution, habitat loss and disturbance from off road vehicles.
It’s important to identify new ETS breeding pools so that they can be monitored and protected. Some exciting new projects are in the future for the ETS project including collecting habitat and water quality data, eDNA study and a VIE (visible implant elastomer) study.
You can help by reporting any Eastern Tiger Salamander Sighting to the NJ Wildlife Tracker
This October, CWF biologists began work on an exciting new pilot project led by The Wetlands Institute to help fill knowledge gaps in the breeding productivity and habitat use of American oystercatchers across New Jersey.
While a significant portion of New Jersey’s oystercatchers nest in marsh habitats, intensive monitoring has historically focused on beach-nesting pairs along the Atlantic Coast due to logistical and resource constraints. In recent years, CWF has played a leading role to gradually expand monitoring to include previously unmonitored sites along the Delaware and Raritan Bays. Now, through this new collaboration with The Wetlands Institute, we are extending our efforts to the estuarine islands and marshes within the Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area.
Over the next year, CWF biologists will work closely with The Wetlands Institute to survey, monitor, and band oystercatchers in these marsh systems to better understand their breeding productivity, habitat needs, and the conservation challenges they face. As sea-level rise, flooding, and erosion threaten the health and resilience of our state’s marsh ecosystems, understanding the needs of marsh-dependent species like oystercatchers is becoming increasingly important. The findings of this pilot effort will help refine monitoring strategies for marsh habitats and guide future management decisions, ultimately contributing to more comprehensive management of New Jersey’s oystercatcher population.
On September 28th a bald eagle with a green band was reported in the Princeton area and again on October 5th, by Susan VanderKam. The code on the band was D99 an eagle who fledged from the 2014 Duke Farms nest. In 2014 the Duke Farms pair raised and fledged three eaglets while being viewed by thousands of people on the eagle cam. The eaglets were banded by state biologists at six weeks of age. D99 a male and the youngest, D98 a male and the second youngest and a female, EOO who was the oldest eaglet. They all fledged in June, 2014.
April 2nd, 2024
After banding May 14th, 2014
On August 25th, 2014, D98 was found dead in Little Sebago, Maine. For more details on what occurred prior to his death see the blog post. E00 the only female has been resighted once and that was on the Duke Farm eagle cam. On February 20th, 2018 as a four year old eagle she returned to her natal nest, while the Duke Farms pair was incubating. The female eventually chased her away.
D99 has been resighted several times since fledging. He was seen in January 2019 at Mercer Lakes
D99 Mercer County Park, January 13, 2019, Bob Cook
In January 2021 he was seen feeding on a deer carcass in Monmouth County.
D99, January 18, 2021, Kristen Branchizio
D99 is now 11 years old and is most likely in a breeding pair and nesting. On September 28th he was perched in a tree with another eagle. Perhaps this is his mate? It would be very exciting to know that he is nesting and we’ll keep you updated.
D99 perched with second eagle. September 28,2025 photo by Susan VanderKam
The New Jersey Endangered Species List just got expanded, which leaves more data to be submitted to the New Jersey Wildlife Tracker! The NJ Wildlife Tracker is our go-to place for submitting: 1) rare wildlife species sightings as well as 2) observations of wildlife (of any kind) on roadways.
Our biggest submissions of commonly known species are bobcats, box turtles, and Bald Eagles! Bobcats are found in over half of New Jersey counties and are native wild cats historically found throughout New Jersey.
We also have a significant number of commonly known species that were added to the Endangered Species List that you might be surprised to see listed there. A few of these that you might be familiar with include: Green Heron, Purple Martin, Northern Diamond-backed Terrapins, Bottlenose Dolphins, and the Monarch Butterfly.
Monarch Photo submitted by Janet Hammond through the NJ Wildlife Tracker.
A fact that is even more surprising than this precious butterfly being listed as Special Concern is that ALL bat species in New Jersey are now on the list, Yikes! If you happen to encounter on any of these precious bat species injured, please contact a NJ Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator who treats bats. If you would like to learn more about how New Jersey Fish and Wildlife are combatting this, you can read all about it on their website NJDEP| Fish & Wildlife | Bat Conservation.
Osprey carrying a large adult menhaden. Long Beach Island. August 14, 2016. Photo by Jim Verhagen.
Over the past twenty years, I’ve had the privilege of watching New Jersey’s osprey population more than double—from roughly 400 nesting pairs to over 800. While our work to protect and expand nesting habitat has played a role in their comeback, the true foundation of their recovery has been a healthy marine ecosystem and an abundance of prey.
