Tag: raptor

Update on Duke Farms Eagle Cam

Posted on by larissasmith
Juvenile eagle, D-98 recovered dead in Maine

by Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist/Volunteer Manager

Duke Farms eagle chicks in nest after banding on May 14, 2014
Duke Farms eagle chicks in nest after banding on May 14, 2014

On July 27th the juvenile male, D-98, was found dead by residents of Little Sebago Lake in Maine. He was banded at six weeks of age along with his two siblings one male and one female at the Duke Farms eagle nest which was broadcast live online.

His body was found floating in the lake by residents who reported the band numbers to the National Bird Banding Lab. We then received the report that he was found dead and were able to contact the finders for more information. Residents of the lake which is NW of Portland, reported seeing him near an active eagle nest located on the lake. The nest had chicks which had fledged in early July. On July 25th residents reported seeing a juvenile with a green band sitting in a tree near a boat house;

“The youngster had been in a small tree next to our boat house for quite a long time when an adult, carrying a fish, swooped in over the folks sunning on the beach and attacked the young bird. It dropped the fish in the process. The adult flew off leaving the fish and the juvenile behind. Thanks to a cell phone photo, we know that the youngster had the band colors of the later retrieved juvenile”.

While we don’t know for certain we can assume that the juvenile’s death was in some part due to injuries that occurred when it was attacked by the adult.  It is always sad to report on the death of an eagle especially one that hundred’s of Duke Farms eagle cam viewers watched “grow-up”, but it is the reality of life in the wild. The mortality rate for first year eagles is fairly high as they are still learning to hunt and survive on their own.  It is very unusual to receive this much information on the details surrounding an eagles death.  D-98 made an approximately 390 mile trip up to Maine.  He probably found plenty of food at the lake which is why he was hanging around, but ended up in another eagles territory.  Hopefully the remaining two juveniles from the Duke Farms nest have better luck and survive their first year.

 

Photo from the Field

Posted on by Ben Wurst
Running the numbers

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

Ben Wurst prepares to band two osprey nestlings for future tracking. Photo courtesy Eric Sambol
Ben Wurst prepares to band two osprey nestlings for future tracking. Photo courtesy Eric Sambol

By now many young ospreys have taken to the wing. While they still rely on their nests to perch at night and their parents for food, these juveniles take to the skies to learn the skills needed to survive to adulthood. Our nesting surveys have been completed, birds banded, and our sunburn and green bites are healing! Over the next week I will start to enter and summarize data that I’ve collected and data from our volunteer “banders” who help cover the most densely populated colonies. From my surveys, which range from Mantoloking to Atlantic City, I’d say that productivity is down in some areas and up in others, as compared to last year. But, ospreys still had a decent year. I would NOT call it a BAD year!

By far my own survey effort was not as great as last year, when we conducted a census of all nesting ospreys in NJ, by publishing our nest locations on our partners website, called Osprey Watch. This year I battled broken boats, a severe cold (still didn’t slow me down), harsh south winds, and thunderstorms to get to as many nests as I could, especially on Barnegat Bay. Why Barnegat Bay? We all have heard that Barnegat Bay is dying. Overloaded with excess nutrients from stormwater runoff, which is killing off the eelgrass beds that provide shelter for many juvenile fish, aka future osprey prey. This project will help us learn about osprey foraging habitat on N. Barnegat Bay. Are more birds foraging in the ocean in those areas, as opposed to birds that nest closer to LBI and LEHT? Hopefully our ospreys will help shed some light on the health of the bay. Lastly, the project would not be possible without the generous support of Northside Jim, chief blogger/extraordinary photographer at “Readings from the Northside” and his many followers. With their support we were able to purchase (100) and deploy (60) a red auxiliary band on young birds. These bands are engraved with an alpha-numeric code which will make identifying birds much easier than only the aluminum USGS band. In the coming weeks Jim will be giving us some assistance with setting up a nice little website where people can learn all about the bands, the birds, and most importantly: report re-sightings of these awesome new bands!

Osprey Craziness!

Posted on by Ben Wurst
Ospreys are a common sight along the New Jersey shore during summer months.
Each year myself and other dedicated volunteers conduct surveys of osprey nests by boat.
Each year myself and other dedicated volunteers conduct surveys of osprey nests by boat. Photo by Northside Jim.
We use ladders to access nests. Photo by Northside Jim.
We use ladders to access nests. Photo by Northside Jim.
We count the number of young produced.
We count the number of young produced.
While checking nests the adults circle nests and often dive bomb banders, like myself.
While checking nests the adults circle nests and often dive bomb banders, like myself.
Dive bombed like this. Photo by Northside Jim.
Dive bombed like this. Photo by Northside Jim.
And this... Photo by Northside Jim.
And this… Photo by Jim Northside Jim.
Young are banded for future tracking.
Young are banded for future tracking.
This year a color auxiliary band is being deployed on young that are produced on Barnegat Bay.
This year a color auxiliary band is being deployed on young that are produced on Barnegat Bay.
The bands will allow us and "Osprey Watchers" to ID individuals birds and we will learn a great deal about their dispersion, site fidelity, life span, etc...
The bands will allow us and “Osprey Watchers” to ID individuals birds and we will learn a great deal about their dispersion, site fidelity, life span, etc…
While checking nests, with or without young, we clean out any trash that we find. Photo by Northside Jim.
While checking nests, with or without young, we clean out any trash that we find. Photo by Northside Jim.
After surveying a nest the adults return to care for their young.
After surveying a nest the adults return to care for their young.

 

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR Osprey Banding

Posted on by Ben Wurst
Three nestlings produced at the Osprey Cam nest are banded for future tracking!

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

In the late afternoon of June 24, 2014, I kicked off the 2014 Osprey Nesting Surveys by banding the three nestings at the Osprey Cam nest. I was joined by Ann Marie Mason Morrison, with Friends of Forsythe NWR, our founding partner with the Osprey Cam, and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interns, Jessie and Kirsten who helped bring out all the equipment needed to the nest (two 20′ ladders).

This is one of the most difficult nests to reach in all of New Jersey! It either takes a boat (at high tide) or two 20′ ladders (at low tide) to cross a 15′ wide ditch on the coastal salt marsh. Anyone who has crossed the ditch can attest to how difficult it is. Now you can watch and see what when into banding these three nestlings. A portion of the video was cut when I was attempting to repair the sound at the camera equipment box. At the same time the nest was cleaned of harmful plastic debris that the birds used as nesting material. A total of 3 balloons and a plastic bag were removed from the nest. The three young were banded with USGS bird bands (1088-04358,59 & 60) for future tracking. Check out a photo that I got of “the runt.” Enjoy!

Osprey Cam update: First egg to 21 days old

Posted on by Ben Wurst
Young osprey develop so fast!

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

First egg was laid on April 19.
First egg was laid on April 19.
They were incubated for 38 days, which is slightly more than the average of 35 days in NJ.
They were incubated for 38 days, which is slightly more than the average of 35 days in NJ.
The first two eggs hatched on May 29th, and the third on June 1.
The first two eggs hatched on May 29th, and the third on June 1.
5-7 days old.
5-7 days old. Sleepy…
Feeding time is non-stop with ospreys!
Feeding time is non-stop with ospreys!
Two weeks old.
Downy and body feathers start to emerge at 14 days old.
Today marks 21 days old (for the oldest two young). They're now very active in the nest and like to check out all the cool nesting material mom & dad used in the nest.
Today marks 21 days old (for the oldest two young). They’re now very active in the nest and like to check out all the cool nesting material mom & dad used in the nest.

Osprey nest needs urgent repairs

Posted on by Ben Wurst
A productive nest on the Navesink River needs a helping hand!

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

UPDATE: We have learned that the pole has been straightened!! Thank you all for the support!!!

Many North American ospreys have already departed from their wintering grounds in Central America, N. South America, and the Caribbean and are on migration to their summer breeding grounds. In New Jersey, most ospreys nest along the Atlantic Coast, from Sandy Hook to Cape May and arrive in mid-late March. One nest (083-A-007) is on a decommissioned channel marker (#21) on the Navesink River, off Fair Haven. The nest was first found in 2006 and in 2013 the nesting pair successfully produced three young. Considering the current condition of the nest pole, they were really lucky to produce any young at all!

083-A-007 on the Navesink needs some TLC!
083-A-007 on the Navesink needs some TLC!

This platform was one of many that sustained damage by Superstorm Sandy. We pledged to repair any and all platforms that were reported as damaged by the Storm and did; however, we don’t have the equipment or boats to repair a leaning platform in open water, like 083-A-007. Since it was damaged we have been contacted by many concerned citizens who watch the pair that nests here. We’re sharing this story to help garner support to repair the nest pole.

Ospreys mate for life and return to the same nest site, year after year.  They will build their nest at an angle to compensate for the lean, but young are still in jeopardy of falling out of it. Our goal is to get it fixed before the pole falls over. Lastly, this is an important nest site in the region. There is very little preserved open space in this region of Monmouth County and very few osprey nests.

We need your help!

Ospreys return to their nesting grounds in mid-late March in New Jersey. © Howie Williams
Ospreys return to their nesting grounds in mid-late March in New Jersey. © Howie Williams

Last year we tried reaching out to local marine construction and bulkheading companies but had no luck getting anyone to even return our calls. Then we contacted the Bureau of Coastal Engineering’s Aids to Navigation and they did not have equipment in the area to make the needed repairs last fall (we’ve since called them again to get their assistance and are waiting to hear back).

Do you know any local bulkheading or marine construction companies who work in the Fair Haven/Rumson area? If you do, please see if they can provide some assistance so this pair of ospreys have a safe place to nest!

Contact us if you know anyone who can help:

Living with eagles as your neighbors

Posted on by larissasmith

Brochures now available

by Larissa Smith: Wildlife Biologist/Volunteer Coordinator

Bald Eagle Project Brochures.
Bald Eagle Project Brochures.

The New Jersey Bald Eagle nesting population is on the rise with 148 nesting pairs monitored in 2013 and 177 young fledged.  As the eagle nesting population increases so do the incidences of eagles nesting in close proximity to humans and human activity. It’s exciting to have a pair of bald eagles nesting and people often want to get a closer look but this can cause disturbance to the nesting eagles and have detrimental impacts. Over half of NJ’s eagle nests are located on private property which makes it important to advise and educate land owners, land managers about living with eagles.

To address this issue CWF received a grant to produce two informational brochures about co-existing with bald eagles in NJ. One is a general brochure for anyone interested in eagles in NJ and the other is specifically for landowners/land managers with eagle nests located on their property.  The brochures contain information on eagle history, living with eagles as you neighbors, how to be a good eagle watcher or steward, as well as phone numbers for information and law enforcement. As the eagle project volunteers monitor their nests they will have these brochures available to educate interested people.

Month of the Falcon – Bonus shots – Holgate

Posted on by Ben Wurst
Our barrier island predators

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

New Jersey’s geographic location along the Atlantic Coast helps make it a unique place for wildlife and a globally recognized stopover for migratory birds, bats, and invertebrates. Peregrine falcons are a common sight along our barrier islands during fall and winter months. Peregrines hang out in areas with high prey densities and many of those areas are our coastal and urban areas. Those areas have large flocks of shorebirds, ducks, blackbirds, pigeons, and common backyard birds.

One photographer, Northside Jim, has been documenting peregrines on Long Beach Island. I first started following Jim’s blog, “Readings from the Northside,” after seeing his attraction to capturing the natural ecology of the beach on Long Beach Island, and especially his attraction to taking photos of the ospreys that he saw flying overhead in North Beach. I later contacted Jim and he came out osprey banding with me on Barnegat Bay to “meet” the ospreys that he was seeing fly overhead.  Jim’s been hooked ever since!

His compassion for wildlife is apparent as well. Rescuing injured gulls, showing photos of boats that are way too close to marine mammals, etc… In addition, Jim’s clever and witty writing style, photo captions and subject matter make learning about wildlife and the natural environment enjoyable and entertaining. Most importantly, his audience is mostly tourists on LBI, so educating them about our impacts on wildlife and coastal barrier islands is key.

Jim doesn’t like to call himself a photographer, but in fact he is a very talented one, and it’s his photo-journalistic style that captures the eye. This past fall Jim photographed several peregrine falcons in the Holgate Unit of Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, which is at the south end of Long Beach Island. One of his most remarkable discoveries was a juvenile (first photo below) peregrine that I banded in the summer of 2013. “Bridgette” was banded with an auxiliary band reading “59/AN (black/green),” so Jim was able to read the band from his photos. She was from a new nest that we built last spring as a mitigation project for the construction of a bridge over the Garden State Parkway. A pair a had previously nested underneath the bridge but young never fledged the nest. We had no idea if the pair would use the new platform after we installed it, but they did! You can read more about this encounter on Jim’s blog. Enjoy!

Jim has become quite the fan of peregrine falcons and ospreys in NJ. Photo by Northside Jim.
Jim has become quite the fan of peregrine falcons and ospreys in NJ. Photo by Northside Jim.
You can tell that he has a lot of experience (and patience) when it comes to getting a good shot. Photo by Northside Jim.
You can tell that he has a lot of experience (and patience) when it comes to getting a good shot. Photo by Northside Jim.
Percy, the juvenile peregrine from the Holgate Unit of Forsythe NWR. Photo by Northside Jim.
Percy, the juvenile peregrine from the Holgate Unit of Forsythe NWR. Photo by Northside Jim.
Jim's enthusiasm for engaging unwary visitors of the rare (wild) residents of LBI through his popular blog and remarkable photography is a huge benefit to raising awareness for these species. Photo by Northside Jim.
Jim’s enthusiasm for engaging unwary visitors of the rare (wild) residents of LBI through his popular blog and remarkable photography is a huge benefit to raising awareness for these species. Photo by Northside Jim.
This juvenile Jim aptly named "Bridgette" after the nest where it originated, which was installed in 2013 for mitigation for a nest that was once on the GSP bridge over Egg Harbor Bay. Photo by Northside Jim.
This juvenile Jim aptly named “Bridgette” after the nest where it originated (she has a leg band that is readable), which was installed in 2013 for mitigation for a nest that was once on the GSP bridge over Egg Harbor Bay. Photo by Northside Jim.

Thank you, Jim, for all of your efforts to help promote our mission of protecting NJ’s rare wildlife. Make sure to check out his blog to see more spectacular photography: http://exit63.wordpress.com/

 

 

Month of the Falcon – Bonus shots – Palisades falcons

Posted on by Ben Wurst
Bonus shots from wildlife photographer, Herb Houghton

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

Peregrines are by far one of the most majestic birds of prey to observe in their natural habitat. Since 2003 they’ve been streaking through the skies of the New Jersey Palisades along the Hudson River. Thanks to Herb Houghton, we’re able to witness their majesty and their tenacity through his photography.

Peregrines have a streamlined profile. Built for extreme speed and maneuverability. © Herb Houghton
Peregrines have a streamlined profile. Built for extreme speed and maneuverability. © Herb Houghton

 

The fierce look of a female peregrine. © Herb Houghton
The fierce look of a female peregrine. © Herb Houghton

Herb first began photographing wildlife in his own backyard after some debilitating back surgeries put him out of work and made him pay more attention to the wildlife that was in his own backyard. He started out using simple point and shoot cameras using the “digiscoping” technique but finally he decides to get serious and he upgraded to some professional camera gear, including several super telephoto lenses. Herb’s work has been published in many publications, including The Peregrine Observer by New Jersey Audubon Society. He has photographed a wide variety of wildlife throughout New Jersey and especially near his home in Sussex County. Herb also volunteers at WallKill River NWR.

Here's a portrait of the unbanded male that nests along the cliffs of the Palisades. © Herb Houghton
Here’s a portrait of the unbanded male that nests along the cliffs of the Palisades. © Herb Houghton
Is it lunch time yet...? © Herb Houghton
Is it lunch time yet…? Young peregrines are banded for future tracking. © Herb Houghton

Herb first started photographing peregrines at the Palisades after looking up at the sky and noticing them flying overhead. He explored and found a rock outcrop and set out to find the falcons that he saw overhead. Since 2008 he’s documented each year’s triumphs and failures at the Palisades, and has witnessed the ferocity of these awesome predators. His photos have also helped zoologist Kathy Clark with ENSP to ID the nesting pairs and document nest success.

“What I love the most about these birds is that they are fearless predators which take their habitat very seriously. I’ve heard them scream like crazy, then each of the pair launches off of the cliffs and flies over the river all the way to the other side and then start dive bombing a red-tailed hawk or an eagle in Yonkers.” Herb said.

Peregrine harassing a red tailed hawk. © Herb Houghton
Peregrine harassing a red tailed hawk. © Herb Houghton

Herb has learned a lot about peregrines over the years. All from going out into the field to observe them in their natural habitat. Truly, it’s the best way to learn natural bird behavior. As Herb points out, it’s not just about taking photos. “To witness interesting behavior or a new behavior is exhilarating for me, even if it’s too far for a picture.” This past year Herb thinks he even witnessed a rare occurrence, where young of the year were feeding on some of the periodic cicadas that emerged in 2013.

Herb’s most memorable experience while watching the peregrines at the Palisades was when a peregrine bombed him while he was eating a snack while near the cliffs. He watched the bird fly way up until it was a speck in the sky and heard a “whoosh” as it dove within 10 feet of him. It “turned its head to look at me and started screaming her head off. The hairs on the back of my neck stood out as I proceeded to pack up and leave the lookout heading for the woods very quickly.” Thanks so much to Herb for allowing CWF to use his wonderful photos on our website and for sharing his stories of photographing the peregrines at the Palisades.

Copulation of a pair at the Palisades. © Herb Houghton
Copulation of a pair at the Palisades. © Herb Houghton
Prey delivery strengthens the pair bond. © Herb Houghton
Prey delivery strengthens the pair bond. © Herb Houghton
Herb watches the peregrines dive bomb red tailed hawks and eagles along the Hudson River. © Herb Houghton
Herb watches the peregrines dive bomb red tailed hawks and eagles along the Hudson River. © Herb Houghton
Young that are produced along the Hudson River will hopefully survive to adulthood and return to nest in the future. © Herb Houghton
Young that are produced along the Hudson River will hopefully survive to adulthood and return to nest in the future. © Herb Houghton
Juvenile peregrine falcon. © Herb Houghton
Juvenile peregrine falcon. © Herb Houghton
Liftoff! © Herb Houghton
Liftoff! © Herb Houghton

Save the Jersey City Falcon Cam!!

Posted on by Ben Wurst
Tiercel peregrine falcon at Jersey City. © Kathy Clark/ENSP
Tiercel peregrine falcon at Jersey City. © Kathy Clark/ENSP

Since 2000, a pair of state endangered peregrine falcons have nested on a building in Jersey City, New Jersey. Peregrine falcons are drawn to urban areas since there are high levels of prey (pigeons) and suitable areas to nest (building ledges and outcrops). To follow along with their daily life cycle a webcam was first installed in 2001. Since then it has broadcast their success and struggles over the years to reproduce and help bolster the population in the state.

Peregrines have made a remarkable recovery in New Jersey since their reintroduction in the 1970s, and the Falcon Cam has allowed us to help raise awareness for their conservation. This past year we learned that the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, who hosted the camera since it’s installation, no longer has funding to maintain the webcam. Over the next month we’ll be fundraising to help keep the webcam online! At the same time we’ll also be featuring a weekly series “The Month of the Falcon” with insight from biologists and awesome photos of peregrines from New Jersey.