Bay The Osprey Lays Her First Egg In Nest At Island Beach State Park

The 2017 egg watch at the osprey nest at Island Beach State Park has begun.

Bay, the female osprey who returned to the park this year, laid her first egg on April 20. Now she and her mate Bandit will take turns sitting on it and guarding it until the chick hatches.

Brian J. Green was the first to pick the correct date, so he won a Friends of Island Beach State Park T-shirt.

How many eggs Bay will lay this year is anyone's guess. 2013 was the banner year. Four fledglings emerged from the eggs and all four survived. The story was different in 2014, when the male bird disappeared. But Bandit appeared shortly after and Bay accepted him.

Osprey have typically returned to Island Beach in late March, after spending the winter in South America.And you can watch the whole process unfold on the Pete McClain Osprey Cam.

It costs roughly $5,000 a year to maintain the camera and its infrastructure, an expensive venture.

Unfortunately, the infrared that allows night viewing is out. Donations for the camera system allows the Friends of Island Beach State Park to keep the camera running. If you enjoy watching Bay and Bandit and eventually their chicks, please consider making a donation.

You can view the osprey cam here: https://www.friendsofibsp.org/live-cams/osprey-cam/
Please consider making a donation to keep the cam operating here: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofIslandBeach/…/18015191938/

Image: Friends of Island Beach State Park