It was May 1969. My Senior Prom date and I, were in the spirit of Post Prom Elation cutting class and heading for the Joisey Shore. Most of my classmates were heading for some place near an amusement pier. Me? I was heading for some place more natural.
About sunrise, about half way down Island Beach State Park, my vehicle passed a utility pole with a stick-nest cap.
I’d never seen an Osprey nest before and, given the state of raptors in the late 60s, I didn’t expect to ever enjoy the fortune. But in the morning light it was perfectly evident that there was, against the odds, an adult Osprey settled in the nest. I turned around. Parked where the view was optimal. Turned toward my date and intoned, gravely: “Take a look at that bird. It’s heading for extinction.”
Happily, I was wrong. Far from joining the Passenger Pigeon, the Osprey staged a spectacular comeback. Now they are a manifest thread running through the tapestry that is summer along the Jersey Shore, and they are starting their summer vacation right now. Returning from their winter break in South America to nest sites up and down both Cape May coasts.
Hmm. Let me back track. I just did the birds a disservice a moment ago. I stated that the birds are starting their summer “vacation.” From the standpoint of being a professional Osprey, nothing could be farther from the truth. Summer is work time for Osprey. The six month period when they court, mate, build nests, raise young, then turn around and head back to the Southern Hemisphere (or maybe the southernmost parts of the Northern Hemisphere).
I saw my first Osprey on March 14 this year. The bird was hunting over the South Cape May Meadows. I noted my second at Jakes Landing on March 20. I’ve yet to see one in Cumberland County where last year, Osprey enjoyed one of their most spectacular breeding years ever.
Most years, most nests, you’ll find two young Osprey in a nest. Last year every nest along the Maurice River had three birds and all of them fledged.
What does this mean? Beside more Osprey? It means a big, healthy environment. Osprey eat fish. The only way Osprey can get off three young birds per nest is by supplying lots of fish. The only way Osprey are going to find lots of fish is because there are lots of fish.
Lots of fish is just another way of saying “healthy aquatic environment.” And while populations of some fish species are most certainly down, others are very apparently up.
Osprey vote with their feet. Nest productivity last year was a four-talons up sign of a healthy environment.
Osprey are not unique to Cape May, or even North and South America. In fact, they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Curiously enough the species does not breed in South America, yet they are found there year round.
It turns out that birds that are hatched in North America don’t bother to return in their second year; i.e., the year after hatching. Since it takes Osprey two years to attain sexual maturity, second year Osprey figure it doesn’t make sense to migrate thousands of miles just to turn around and go back again. On top of this, breeding adults don’t want them around.
So second year Osprey stay south. When they return, as adults, they get down to the serious business of moving their genes forward.
So over the course of the next several weeks, Cape May residents will be welcoming old friends. Osprey will be returning to established nests and some birds will be nesting for the first time. New Jersey residents have not seen such a wealth of Osprey in more than half a century. Lucky for them. Lucky for us.
Osprey
Bad news for Menhaden but…what the heck – Menhaden don’t read this column. Darn good thing; I’d hate to see next weeks Spouty Offy!
If you are interested in seeing your first Osprey of the season, head over to the Cape May Bird Observatory – THE place for all your nature needs – and pick up a free birding map, checklist and schedule of our daily walks. Or just meet Pete for his Monday morning walk through the South Cape May Meadows where he can personally point out Osprey. The walk meets every Monday morning at 7:30 am in The Nature Conservancy parking lot on Sunset Blvd. CMBO is located at 701 East Lake Drive overlooking Lake Lily in Cape May Point (609.884.2736), and is open EVERY day from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Our staff are always available to help with any questions. While you are there, scan the bookshelves for some bargains in the used and vintage books section, look at some of the wonderful Charley Harper merchandise including a terrific lithograph done just for the Cape May Bird Observatory, or just browse around. Take a look at the sighting sheets to check what’s being seen out in the field, check out the view of the lake from the wide selection of scopes and binoculars – perhaps even catch an Osprey out looking for a snack. Or if it’s a nice spring day, sit outside on our garden benches and enjoy the birds at the feeders and the view of Lake Lily. If you can’t make it in person, you can also visit us online www.BirdCapeMay.org – where birding Cape May is only a click away!