The main threat to bald eagles in New Jersey was theuse of the pesticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, commonly known as DDT. In 2022 they laid their first egg January 19th. "Their continuing recovery has been inspiring. Number of bald eagle nests and young fledged in New Jersey, 1990-2022. . Four or more eagles in one location, especially after 3 pm (this could reveal a significant winter roost site). The Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center . A Maryland state biologist investigated this for us, and found the transmitter in a harvested corn field, with no sign of any eagle. From just a single nesting pair at a failing nest through the early 1980s, eagles have rebounded to over 300 pairs in 2020! Oran is an eagle banded and tagged as a nestling on Delaware Bay in 2015. We then gather that information and then report it to utility companies so that they can make alterations to their equipment to reduce chances of such forms of injury or mortality of bald eagles and other large birds. It turns out the eagles had scavenged on a dead fox that had died from poisoning. New Jersey continues to collect high quality data on the health and productivity of its bald eagles, which is no small feat given the species ever-growing numbers. Return Home < Protecting Wildlife < New Jersey EagleTrax <. Lead in the environment is dangerous to bald eagles. The 250 active nests confirmed in 2022 represent a more than two-fold increase over the 10-year period beginning in 2013, when 119 active nests were counted. For the first time a transmitter was placed on a chick from the Duke Farms Eagle Cam nest. Bald eagles have made a remarkable recovery in New Jersey over the last forty years. She fledged and spent the winter of 2013-14 ranging around northern Chesapeake Bay in MD. Shellfish harvesting has been suspended in these New Jersey locations. All rights reserved. The first egg of 2023 was seen in the nest early Saturday morning, Jan. 21 and the second on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Bill Barlow. New Jerseys abundant and growing bald eagle population is a great success story that shows our wildlife conservation work and partnerships are effective, NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe said. Oran had been around the lower Maurice River on October 24 when his tag stopped transmitting; 11 days later the tag pinged at a farm field in Maryland. 0. In March and June he visited the area of his old nest site at Duke Farms for a day or two and then would head back south to the Susquehanna River. "You learn something new about them all the time," said Larissa Smith, a wildlife biologist with Conserve Wildlife Foundation in Trenton and co-author of the 2018 Bald Eagle Project, published jointlywiththe state's Division of Fish and Wildlife. the Garden State had just one surviving bald eagle nest in . The nest in Princeton saw the hatching of three eaglets, one of which successfully fledged the nest. An oyster farmer shucks an oyster on the New Meadows River in Maine in 2021. . Communal roosts for eagles play a significant role in the life cycle of non-breeding, sub-adult eagles. Throughout the 1970s and during most of the 1980s, New Jersey had one active bald eagle nest . This is an amazing story New Jersey should celebrate, he said. The productivity rate for nests with known outcomes was 1.42 young per nest, which is above the range required to maintain healthy population numbers. Other states increasingly look to New Jerseys volunteer-based monitoring program as a guiding example of how to monitor this species efficiently and effectively in this latest stage of its recovery. The transmitter was intact but the harness was in pieces, looking like it had gone through the harvester. After that he spent the majority of his time in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The smaller male bald eagle has a body length of 30 to 34 inches; with a wingspan ranging from 72 to 85 inches. About one day after release, he had crossed the Delaware River, back into Salem County, back home. It is fitting that the bird honored as the symbol of our nation continues expanding its presence in the state that became the crossroads of Americas quest for freedom and independence.. There are some special guests in Asbury Park stadium, a set of bald eagles who have made the stadium lights a prime spot for picking out fish. How to use the map: On the top of the map you will see the names of the birds that are or have been tracked. Bald eagles made an appearance on the Seaside Heights boardwalk Oct. 19, 2021. 1 of 15. band. NJ Eagle Project volunteer Barb McKee has been closely following Duke's travels and she was able to locate him and was able to get photos of Duke and his transmitter. Both sexes have similar plumage, although the female is slightly larger than the male, according to the NJDEP. This entry was posted 0:43. It washidden inBear Swamp, an old-growth forest of American sweetgum and red maple trees in Cumberland County on the shores of Delaware Bay. Bald Eagle nests face many threats. An online guide to Middlesex County's growers and agricultural product producers, Grown in Middlesex County, will help you find that perfect local farmers' market, seasonal fruit and vegetables, pick your own strawberries and apples, pumpkin or flower and vegetable transplants right in your own backyard. Email him atpolanin@njaes.rutgers.edu. . Kentucky's nesting Bald Eagle population grew rapidly in recent years. Partnership Overview. A nest-monitoring program managed by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey uses about 100 volunteers to observe nests and report the birds behavior to DEP biologists. The nest at the Edison Tower, Kin Buc Landfill Superfund site in Edison Township saw the hatching of four eaglets, two of which successfully fledged the nest. In-person public nest viewing will be held at the West Picnic Area at the Mercer County Park. Depth maps of many lakes are also available on the Lake Survey Maps page. In addition, contaminants in the food web may negatively affect the eagles nesting in some areas of New Jersey, according to the report. Education and established viewing areas are important in minimizing disturbance, as are the efforts of project volunteers, who are crucial to their successful nesting attempts each year. It is sad as we were hoping to track Pedro as he found a mate and nested. The early conservation program also included a lawsuit filed by the DEP against the developer of a new port on South Jerseys Cohansey River, where only the second pair of eagles were starting to nest. Use of DDT was banned in New Jersey in 1968 and federally in 1972 after the book "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson was published in the early 1960s. Of those nests, 83 percent were successful and collectively produced 335 offspring. Niles, now an independent wildlife biologist, also took eggs from New Jerseys only bald eagle nest at the time at Bear Swamp in Cumberland County before their shells were broken by unsuspecting parents during incubation. A decades-long effort to save bald eagles in the Garden State has reached a major milestone: The iconic birds of prey are now confirmed to be nesting in all 21 New Jersey counties.. . Jon Hurdle, a freelance writer who regularly reports on water and other environmental issues, is part of the NJ Spotlight COVID-19 reporting team. Conserve Wildlife Foundations Eagle Monitoring Project. CWF would also like to thank our partners, who make our bald eagle conservation work possible, including PSE&G, Wakefern Food Corp./ShopRite Stores, P&G, Wells Fargo, Mercer County Parks, Wildlife Center Friends, the American Eagle Foundation, and the Zoological Society of New Jersey. She was found dead on November 24, 2014 near the Chesapeake Bay. NEWS: January 20, 2023 - The 2022 NJ Bald Eagle Project Report has been published online, which summarizes results from the previous year which include 267 nests statewide. Bald eagles built N0 . In 2020, Stoner said, bald eagles had nine known nest sites within Lebanon County, including five that were active and produced young. One would not make it, but two did survive. But however successful the state has been in using regulation to protect the bird, its recovery could not have happened without the many volunteers who have monitored nest sites and worked to protect foraging areas. It is exciting that to know that Duke is still doing well and we can continue to follow his travels. In fall, 2014, she headed to eastern PA, and spent most of 2015, 2016 part of 2017 on Marylands eastern shore. A large raptor, the bald eagle has a wingspread of about seven feet. Both comments and pings are currently closed. He was taken to The Raptor Trust for rehabilitation and after healing, he was released back at the nest site. 3,356 total members. The pair returned to the tower and used the new nesting platform in Feb. 2020. These cams are powered completely by solar energy. In 2020, volunteers determined that 210 nests raised an average of 1.46 young, above the level of 1 per nest thats needed to maintain a stable population. Goals of the New Jersey Bald Eagle Project include monitoring the birds recovery status in the state; protecting nesting sites, foraging and wintering areas; documenting location data to identify at-risk habitats; and providing education to private landowners. 247 territorial bald eagle pairs were identified statewide in 2021. WESTMINSTER, Colo. A pair of bonded bald eagles at Standley Lake Regional Park have a new egg. They're even nesting on cell towers. Nest Monitor Mary Ellen Hill was able to zoom in and get some great closeup views of one of the eagles. B. With 141 miles of coastline and over 400 inland waterways, New Jersey fishing and boating opportunities exist for people of all skill levels. MercerMe is the only hyperlocal, independent, online news outlet serving Hopewell Valley in Mercer County, New Jersey. Volunteer observers from the ENSP and CWP watched most nests from a distance of 1,000 feet, using binoculars and spotting scopes, for periods of two or more hours each week, according to the report. They require a good food base, perching areas, and nesting sites. Enjoy the Countys beautiful scenery and start your journey today!, READ:New resolutions to fulfill | Gardener State. As the study progressed additional eagles have been banded. The return of our national symbol has been cheered by New Jerseyans young and old. The eagles were suffering from secondary poisoning and could die without quick treatment. The volunteers secured Pedro in a carrier and he was taken to Tri-State Bird Research and Rescue in Delaware for evaluation. I can do reporting if it would be helpful. Another attempt was made on January 18th and the bird was found dead on the shoulder of the highway. This number includes pairs that had active nests as well as those that maintained nest territories but did not lay eggs. "When I got involved there were 25 nesting pairs. It took banning DDT, passage of the Endangered Species Act and then thousands of dedicated professionals, both paid and volunteers, working tirelessly to bring the species back.. On the left hand side you will see the years that the bird has been tracked. Since non of the eagles are banded we can't know 100% that it's one or two pairs. Sadly, this bird died only a few months after fledging. Bald eagles have made an inspiring recovery against overwhelming odds in New Jersey and across the eastern United States. February 3, 2023. With a wing span of six to seven feet, Bald Eagles are larger than most birds, but can be confused with vultures from a distance. NorthJersey.com. By the end of 2021, AEF has released a total of 180 young Bald Eagles from its Douglas Lake, TN hack site, the largest number of any hack releases in the state. 2019 Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), A Year of Surprises New Jerseys 2021 Beach Nesting Bird Season, CWF Assists the State with Wintering American Oystercatcher Survey, https://patch.com/new-jersey/brick/bald-eagles-make-their-home-on-brick-cell-tower, Barnegat Light Habitat Maintenance Prepping for Piping Plovers. With night falling, several rescuers scrambled to get to them, including Dr. Erica Miller and Eagle Project volunteer John Fox. But that is the harsh reality of the life of an eagle, it's tough. They were buzzed by a Red-tailed hawk and the pair defended the nest. The nest name is Kettle Creek and the outcome is shown on page 13 of the report, where they fledged three young one of which was found on the ground on June 19 and brought to TriState Bird Rescue for care and released on July 20. Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling on the body, tail, and undersides of wings. Eagle Project volunteers Jeff & Cathy white went out the next day to search for the transmitter and found it on the ground and no sign of Haliae. in 2022, a second eagle nest was discovered on Arboretum property, closer to the river and golf course. Biologists are now wondering how many bald eaglesNew Jersey can house. To change the map layer, click on the box in the upper right. Fourteen new territorial nesting sites were confirmed in the southern region, 10 in the central, and five in the north. a mature pair have been roosting in a tree in my yard for the past year and built a new nest this past summer/fall. The Grown in Middlesex County interactive map, found online at bit.ly/3sxMaHQ, allows users to choose from farmers markets, U-Pick farms and other farms throughout the county, including the farms address, phone number and website. This project is a partnership between multiple organizations to determine the effects of upgrading electrical transmission equipment on nesting bald eagles. Duke spent the majority of his time in 2020 along the Susquehanna River in PA and MD, but made a few trips up in into PA. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In 2022, 267 nesting pairs of bald eagles were monitored in New Jersey. A total of 267 total territorial pairs were monitored 2022. Our countys new marketing campaign, Grown in Middlesex County, features an online guide to the best our local farms and agricultural producers have to offer. Naturalists and guides will be on hand to help visitors safely view bald eagles with spotting scopes . The first bald eagle chicks of 2019 are expected to begin hatching later this month and in early March. Return Home < Protecting Wildlife < Conservation Projects < Bald Eagle Project <. insulating power lines near perch or nest locations and adding large, bright visual markers on power lines to alert birds to the wires. I have yet to meet a person who sees a bald eagle, and doesnt put down their phone, and just gaze in amazement, he said. The Bald Eagles official New Jersey status currently remains endangered for the breeding season and threatened for the non-breeding season, according to the report. In 2021, she said the state documented almost 250 bald eagle nesting pairs and 222 of them were "active" pairs, meaning they laid eggs. Our growers have taken the lead in producing some of the very best farm products and offering exciting agritourism opportunities for the entire family.. One of the straps on her harness was noticeably loose. Thanks to the hard work of our wildlife conservationists, a commitment to using the best science, and our collaboration with our partners, the growing eagle population that has expanded statewide is proof that we have a healthy environment for wildlife. Long-term data is incomplete, but David Wheeler, executive director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation, said the 2018numbers are the highest number of nests and birds tallied in New Jersey since 1982, when the state begancounting them. Conserve Wildlife Foundation launched New Jersey EagleTrax to learn about this non-breeding, sub-adult period of a their life cycle and use the data collected to help protect communal roost sites. Their revival is thanks to a federal ban on the toxic chemical DDT, long-term protections by state biologists and a network of volunteers who monitor the nests of the iconic birds . Fox News' Sean Hannity recently accused wind turbines of "contributing to the deaths of whales and bird life," and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., claimed dead whales "keep washing up on the beach from wind farms." The mayors of 12 towns along the Jersey Shore signed a letter calling for a pause in offshore wind development. Perhaps something was blocking the solar panel, dirt, a leaf or a feather. At that time, biologists believed eagles could only survive in remote areas. In total, biologists with the Division of Fish and Wildlifes Endangered and Nongame Species Program,along with nearly 100 volunteers and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, monitored a record 220 nesting pairs of eagles that produced 307 young. Another search was launched in October with no tag found. It offers key points of contact with NJ Fish and Wildlife and CWF and offers information on what to do when you encounter an active osprey or eagle nest throughout the year. She has spent six years in a 100-mile swath of western Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. The 2021 nesting season was another successful one for New Jersey's bald eagles, with the statewide population remaining stable at 247 nest sites. Nests are considered active if a bird is observed in an incubating position or if eggs or young are detected in the nest, according to the report. The eagle is very adaptive," said Wheeler. The efforts of the New Jersey Bald Eagle Project a partnership among the DEP, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, and volunteer eagle watchers demonstrate how new technologies, effective coordination, public engagement, and education are at work to protect treasured wildlife species such as the bald eagle., The ongoing recovery and growth of New Jerseys bald eagle population is a remarkable story that gets better with each passing year,said Fish and Wildlife Assistant Commissioner Dave Golden.