Check this off my list of stuff to do...

I've been wanting to move this platform for years!!

I finally got around to moving a platform at the Wetlands Institute yesterday. I had help from staff at the Institute. I believe the platform was never occupied because of its close proximity to human disturbance. It was near areas that get high use by people who visit the site in the spring and summer months. At its new location, its closer to water and farther away from humans, a perfect fit for a pair of ospreys!

I was assisted by Wetlands Institute staff, Dan McLaughlin, Phil Broder, and Kaitlin Gannon (from L to R) to help move this platform that has never been occupied. It was moved to the SE, in more suitable habitat at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ. © Ben Wurst

Prepping for Another Nesting Season

Adult Ospreys Begin Heading North in 2 to 4 weeks!

Volunteers with the NJ Osprey Project help install this platform that was moved to a more suitable location along Patcong Creek in Linwood, NJ. © Ben Wurst

Building an Appreciation for Ospreys!

Students help install braces on the platform. © Ben Wurst

This past week I met up with approximately 25 students from the Folwell School in Mount Holly. The 4th and 5th graders chose to help ospreys by constructing an osprey nesting platform for the Disney's Planet Challenge. "DPC teaches kids about science and conservation while empowering them to make a positive impact on their communities and planet." I was very happy to work with Maria Rivera, teacher of the students, from the beginning. Constructing the platform with the students was a rare treat and I was slightly envious of them. I was thinking, if I could only say that I helped to build an osprey platform when I was 9-10 years old....

I plan on inviting the students to help me install the platform near New Gretna, in eastern Burlington County in late March.

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Making It Right

A Bad Installation...

Each year I am contacted by more and more individuals who find osprey nesting platforms that are placed in unsuitable habitat or in areas with high levels of disturbance. This week I was contact by Harry Cottril and his daughter Laura about this platform. In my last post, I stated that I'd be installing a platform in Linwood (where this platform is located) this winter/early spring. Harry commented on my post and was wondering if I installed it. I know just about every nest structure for ospreys in the state, many of which I've climbed to band young in late June/early July. I wasn't familiar with one at the location described by Harry. In many cases people contact me for guidance on suitable locations to install osprey platforms and I am more than happy to offer guidance to avoid these types of situations!

This platform was placed in the one of the worst locations, right next to a primitive boat ramp on Patcong Creek in Linwood, NJ. Photo courtesy Harry Cottril.

I may not have installed it, but I'm planning on moving it! I have not seen the platform firsthand, but from the photo it looks like a sound platform that was built from our plans. It's current location is at the west end of Hamilton Ave. in Linwood on Patcong Creek. The land is owned by the City of Linwood as municipal open space. The location is too close to the parking area/boat ramp on the creek.

A map of Hamilton Ave. and one osprey platform to the south of Bargaintown Lake. Courtesy Google Earth.

There is a parcel to the south that is much more suitable for ospreys. It's farther away from disturbance, the main threat to ospreys at its current location. With constant disturbance, the platform would just go un-used. In the next month we will recruit some local volunteers to help us move the platform to a more suitable location.

To help address this issue, in partnership with NJ Fish and Wildlife, we are going to amend the Osprey Nesting Platform designs to include specific instructions on the proper placement of nesting platforms.

• Current Placement Guidelines (NJDFW)
• Current Platform Plans (CWF)