A pair of Ospreys have built a nest on top of a crane at the site of the former Centerton Road bridge, marking what Rancocas Creek advocates believe is the first time the threatened species has returned to the creek since World War I.
MOUNT LAUREL — Some long-lost friends of the Rancocas Creek have returned.
A pair of Ospreys have built a nest on top of a crane at the site of the former Centerton Road bridge, marking what Rancocas Creek advocates believe is the first time the threatened species has returned to the creek since World War I.
John Anderson, an advocate for the Rancocas Creek Water Trail, spotted the nest around two weeks ago while out kayaking.
“This shows how much the Rancocas Creek is rebounding,” Anderson said. “They could have a nest somewhere else, but for whatever reason they found the top of that crane. It’s a real nice place to build a nest.”
According to Anderson, this could be the first osprey nest since at least their reintroduction in 1975, possibly going back to the turn of the century.
“It’s not definitive, but pretty conclusive. If there had been, somebody would have documented it,” Anderson said. “I’ve been paddling up and down creek for a while, and I’ve seen osprey before, but no nests.”
Anderson, of Westampton, goes by the Rancocas Creek Keeper and has been working to have the creek designated as a national water trail by the U.S. National Park System.
It’s not uncommon for ospreys to build nests atop tall, manmade structures, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife.
It is, however, late in the season for an osprey to build a nest and lay eggs, according to DEP spokesperson Larry Hajna, and the pair may be practicing and may not lay eggs.
Ospreys were once considered an endangered species after the widespread use of the pesticide DDT, as well as the development of their habitat, nearly wiped them out of the state. Prior to the introduction of the chemical, over 500 nests could be found along New Jersey’s coastline.
By 1974, only 50 nests remained and ospreys were declared endangered.
Since, measures to protect ospreys have been put in place, and as of this year its estimated there are 650 nesting pairs across the state. They are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act of 1973.
One measure put in place to protect ospreys was to protect nests during their nesting season, which typically is from April 1 to Aug. 31. During their nesting season, osprey nests can’t be moved or disturbed without federal and state permits.
According to Hajna, the division of fish and wildlife has been in contact with the engineering firm contracted to demolish the bridge about the osprey nest.
Work is currently on hold until July 1 due to other restrictions in place to protect migratory fish in the Rancocas Creek.
If the ospreys do not lay eggs, the nest can be removed from the crane, Hajna said. If there are eggs, permits would have to be acquired and the nest would be moved to a nearby nesting platform.
Nesting platforms are something Anderson would like to see more of along the banks of the creek.
“It might be a good idea to start thinking about this, to keep osprey on the creek,” Anderson said. “There’s enough space to put a nesting platform that will not infringe upon recreation along the creek.”
As part of the effort to bring back ospreys from endangered, environmentalists installed manmade platforms near bodies of water across the state to give ospreys more places to build a nest.
“Who would have thought a pair of osprey would have come down the Rancocas Creek. Everybody I’ve talked to about this wants to protect this osprey nest to the fullest extent,” Anderson said. “We lucked out, but let’s protect them also. Let’s do what we can to keep them on the creek.”
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