Better known as the fishhawk, seahawk or fish eagle, the osprey appears on the Canadian ten dollar bill, is the official bird in parts of Sweden, and is so unique that it has its own taxonomic genus and family – but for generations has been disappearing.  For ten New Jersey communities in Ocean and Monmouth counties, a recent Verizon grant (Spring 2007) toward the construction of nesting platforms for the threatened raptor is helping bring the once might bird back from the brink of extinction.

One of the largest birds of prey in North America – and once common in New Jersey – the number of osprey has dropped alarmingly since the 1950s with increased use of pesticides and depletion of suitable nesting sites.  Compounding their struggle to repopulate was the lack of safe places to build their nests, normally in tall locations with protection from predators and perches for their chicks.

 The construction of nesting towers in counties across the state provides the birds with a safe place to bear and raise their young.  In Middletown, the construction of four nesting platforms along with local tidal marshes and river has already seen a nesting pair make their home.