Platform Construction, Take II

This Saturday, volunteers will gather to help construct several osprey platforms to be installed at Fort Monmouth within the next month. Heavy snow delayed the construction and installation for this project in early February. Warmer temperatures and rain helped melt most of the snow, making construction possible again.

Other work continues as far as installations are concerned. Three platforms are going to be installed along the Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay. Repairs are also being planned for a few nest platforms along the Atlantic Coast. Stay tuned for photos from these installations. We hope to film more parts for the second installment in our Osprey Platform construction and installation video series!

Work is also being done to update the state's database of all osprey nest structures in NJ. There are over 700 nest platforms that are mapped and tracked from year to year.

Ospreys start arriving back to their breeding grounds soon! Keep an eye on those skies!  

Construction complete!

(From left to right) Ben Wurst, Author; Greg Rineberg, Greg Molyneux, Giselle, Jack Gamble

Well we're on our way to installing the 10+ platforms in Great Bay Blvd. WMA from a donation by Exelon Corp. (Oyster Creek Generating Station in Forked River) and from my Facebook pledge. In all, 14 platforms were built on Saturday, the 20th. I had over 10 friends show up to brave the cold cloudy day to help build these. Overall the construction went like a breeze, besides the tiny compressors we had to operate the air ratchet, so we ditched that for good old fashioned hand tools.

We saved lumber to build one platform where we taped the construction from start to finish. I'm in the process of editing the video and should have it done before the weekend. I just like to thank Greg M. for being the camera man! Stay tuned for the video!

We plan on installing these platforms early this winter, probably in January. I believe that we could get all up in one day, that is if I tranport each one to the exact location where we are going to install it. We will also be taking video of the actual installation as a tutorial for future use by organizations, other states, and the general public.

I just want to thank all my friends who showed up to help out! THANKS!

-Ben

Platform construction day

Hey all, I'm back from my honeymoon trip to St. John, so....Back to reality!

This Saturday will be when we construct around 10-15 platforms at my house. If I do not have your e-mail address, please e-mail that to me if you are interested in coming (or you can txt or e-mail me).

Time: 10am-whenever we get done.
Place: My house in New Gretna. Please park down the old mill road just before my house, drive back and park near the wood pile.

Maybe we can all pitch in $5 and get either subs or pizza for lunch.


The weather does not look great all wee; however, Saturday they are calling for only a 10% chance of rain, so keep your fingers crossed, b/c we will be working outside.