Build the Platform, the Ospreys Will Come

ERMA – Available: osprey nesting platform, located in quiet marsh, view of parkway, no deposit, great place to raise a family.
Thanks to Matt Reidenbach and friends, a nesting platform and perch have been installed in the marsh along winding Jones’ Creek between Weeks Landing Road and the Garden State Parkway. An old nesting platform was located about 300 feet from the new one but was beyond repair, he said.
The “new” platform is actually made of reclaimed wood from a barn and the Ocean City Boardwalk. Reidenbach said he has seen ospreys nearby.
“We know they are here, we’re hoping they’ll make a nest,” he said.
Ben Wurst, a habitat program manager for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, directed the installation of the platform. He said 25-30 pairs of ospreys nest in Wildwood.
Ospreys traditionally built nests in snags and small, stunted trees before the barrier islands were developed, said Wurst. He said the foundation puts up nesting platforms throughout the state and monitors the osprey population in cooperation with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Reidenbach, a teacher at Maud Abrams School was assisted by fellow teachers David Bur and Chris Shivers. The installation was easy with 8-year old Bryce Reidenbach and 6-year-old Brent Reidenbach assisting.
Wurst said the hardest part of installing platforms is getting them to the locations, often done by boat. This platform arrived by pickup truck. He said he can build a platform in 30 minutes.
“I’ve installed probably over 120 platforms all over the state,” said Wurst.
What makes an osprey pair make use of a platform? That depends on the location, how well it is built and whether or not there is a predator guard on the platform, he said.
Ospreys built stick nests using Phragmites reeds, eel grass, sea lettuce and floating debris f even such hazardous items as fishing line and balloons, said Wurst.
A perch was installed about 30 feet away from the nesting platform. The perch is for a male osprey to use.
The male will do 70 percent of the foraging and incubation duties. Wurst said the male flies to the nesting area with fish and first feeds himself and then offers food to the female.
Matt Reidenbach has seen nesting red tail hawks near the creek as well as egrets, blue heron and deer.