Four Osprey platforms were put up on Saturday. Two platforms were raised along Swimming River, with a clear view of one platform from Dutch Neck Park on Schultz Drive. The other two new nesting sites were located in the Bayshore region of Middletown Township, one platform near the mouth of Pews Creek, and the other platform near the mouth of Comptons Creek. 

The group gathered at Poricy Park around 9:30am to lean how to assemble the platforms. The day was not done until around 4pm, when the last nesting platform was raised in the wetland mud near Comptons Creek. It was a long grueling day. Quite a few people had cuts on their hands and arms from the sharp leaves of the phragmites weed. In addition, quite a few people had wet feet, bruises, and/or muddy clothes. Yet, everyone involved agreed it was well worth the scrapes, scratches, cuts, and bruises.

Ospreys are once again on the rise in New Jersey due in large part by the efforts of local citizens erecting artificial nesting sites.

The following is a record in pictures of the raising of an Osprey Platform within the saltwater wetlands near the mouth of Compton's Creek on the Port Monmouth side of the creek (Pictures by Laura Bagwell).

Great appreciation needs to given to Jon Rosky from the Osprey Recovery Project in South Jersey for providing his wonderful help and expertise in building and erecting Osprey platforms. Without his assistance on Saturday, the event would not have been as successful and as advantageous for Ospreys. For more information about the Osprey Recovery Project or to contact Jon, please check out his website at: http://www.ospreyproject.org/

Thanks also to Mike Fedosh, chair of the Middletown Environmental Commission, and all the members of the commission for their help, time, and enthusiasm for making this happen and for increasing habitat for Ospreys in the region; and for making Osprey-watchers happy. Appreciation should also go out to Joe Martin and Steve Taylor, two commission members, for scouting out potential nesting sites days before the event.

With a scope or binoculars in hand, the wait is on now for the first sight of Ospreys in the region. New platforms are often occupied by juvenile pairs as they return from their 2-3 year stay in South America to mature. Juveniles will likely return to the area where they were raised.