Osprey Banding update

Hey all, So far I've gotten more than enough responses from people who would like to help out the project by volunteering to band osprey young. From the responses, I think that we will be able to fill all the areas in need with dedicated individuals.

For now I am no longer looking for people to help with banding, but there will be opportunities to help construct and install platforms, so stay tuned....

-Ben

1. Sedge Islands WMA (inside Island Beach State Park)
   
2. N. Barnegat Bay (Forked River, Ocean Gate, Cattus Island Park, Lavallette)
   
3. Barnegat and Manahwkin Bays (LBI area) - position filled
   
4. Absecon WMA and Atlantic City - position filled
   
5. Great Egg Harbor (Ventnor, Margate, Somers Point, Ocean City) - position filled
   
6. Tuckahoe, Middle River, and Great Egg Harbor River - position filled
   
7. Avalon - position filled

Facebook pledge update

I am proud to announce that I successfully raised over the initial $100.00 pledge on Facebook thanks to my generous family, friends, and coworkers (everyone from my e-mail address book and Facebook acct.). Even though my pledge is over, I still had some who wanted to donate to repair other structures in other areas! I'm eager to purchase the materials needed to construct the platform and will post videos and pictures on here and Facebook of the supplies, construction, and installation. I want to keep my donors happy by engaging them in the process, even though they may not be able to help with the actual work.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to my pledge!!!!!

-Ben

Only 12 days left of my funding raising pledge on Facebook

Only 12 more days for me to raise $15.00. If anyone can even contribute $5, it's a worthy cause!!!!!

Click here for a link to donate.

Platform installation video

Here's a video from 2006 when myself and two seasonal technicians (Jeff Sloane and Sean Roch) installed a platform in North Wildwood, NJ. Check it out.

Facebook pledge update

So for those of you who didn't see my previous post about a pledge I started on Facebook to raise $100.00 to build an osprey platform, I only need $15.00 more to complete my pledge(in 15 days)! The platform will be located in an area that is very important to the population by strengthening the population and will eventually lead to the full recovery of the species in NJ. The area is the Great and Little Egg Harbor Bays, one of the most pristine watersheds along the whole eastern coast of the US. Already every suitable platform that could be used by ospreys to nest on is being used, even an old houseboat that is turned over on it's side in Great Bay Blvd. Wildlife Management Area. With this small colony of about 15-20 nesting pairs, we could build it to reach 30 in the next 2-3 years, maybe even more with the high productivity rates that have been observed over the last 5 years. So I'd like to personally thank all who donated to my pledge, THANK YOU!!! Without your strong support of the Osprey Project, then we would be forced rely on government grants and other limiting factors that can delay the process of helping a threatened species recover to historic numbers!

An uphappy 6 week old osprey chick in Wildwood, NJ, 2006.

Raptor bander wanted!!

**PLEASE SEE POST ON NOV. 24th**

• Do you support wildlife conservation?
• Enjoy being outdoors?
  
• Do you have any experience handling birds?
• Do you have a small boat?
• Do you live in along the Atlantic coastal region of NJ?
• Are you available to volunteer several days during weekdays/ends during late June/early July?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we could use your help!

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ and the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program seek to find a dedicated and responsible individual to survey osprey nesting platforms and band their young. We currently have several different areas along the Atlantic coast that need a volunteer to survey. Those areas are:

1. Sedge Islands WMA (inside Island Beach State Park)
   
2. N. Barnegat Bay (Forked River, Ocean Gate, Cattus Island Park, Lavallette)
   
3. Barnegat and Manahwkin Bays (LBI area) - position filled
   
4. Absecon WMA and Atlantic City - position filled
   
5. Great Egg Harbor (Ventnor, Margate, Somers Point, Ocean City) - position filled
   
6. Tuckahoe, Middle River, and Great Egg Harbor River - position filled
   
7. Avalon - position filled
   

The volunteer(s) will be trained by NJ Fish and Wildlife and CWF biologists to properly survey, handle, and band osprey young. He/she will be responsible for submitting survey results at end of season. We would also like for you to become involved with the maintenance, construction, and placement of osprey platforms.

**Note - Interested individuals should be comfortable being outdoors for long periods of time in direct sunlight. You will be working in muddy, buggy conditions. Only a few volunteers will be selected for the next season, so I am not guaranteeing that all will be chosen. If you have a resume, please include it in the email. Good luck!

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact me: ben.wurst@conservewildlifenj.org