South Amboy Osprey Platform Erected To Boost Bird Population

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ - Volunteers from Save Coastal Wildlife installed an osprey nest in South Amboy last week in an effort to bolster the population of the threatened species.

Members of Save Coastal Wildlife gathered at the South Amboy Waterworks on March 26 to assemble prefabricated sections of the nest, learning how to use multiple tools throughout the process (see photos below).

The nesting location for one of New Jersey’s largest coastal raptors was chosen given the area’s wet and soft ground, which makes it easier to dig a hole and set the post in place, the city of South Amboy said in a statement. If no ospreys use the platform or if conflicts arise, volunteers may move the platform after 2 to 3 years.

“One of the most important management techniques for New Jersey ospreys is providing adequate nest structures along the coast,” the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey said in a statement. “These structures require maintenance and replacement as they age. Donors and volunteers have been valuable in providing funding and assistance with installation of artificial nesting platforms. New structures have also helped the expansion of nesting in northern New Jersey and along the Delaware River.”

Before 1950, 500 osprey nests were recorded along the New Jersey coast; however, by 1974, only 50 nests remained, according to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Thanks to efforts to increase the population, ospreys have gone from an “endangered” to “threatened” designation in the Garden State with over 475 nesting pairs and 200 nest platforms as of 2020.