Osprey at the Maurice River

Osprey taking off at the Maurice River Watershed - photo Jim Maddox via Flickr

New Jersey's osprey population, like osprey populations throughout the country, was in serious decline from the 1950s through the 1970s due to the effects of DDT and other widely used pesticides. However, in the past few years, the osprey population has finally climbed back to its pre-DDT levels. The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program has worked with volunteers fostering this comeback through nest management and the placement of nesting platforms.

The work of one group of volunteers, Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River, was recently highlighted on the Newsworks website, the online home of WHYY News and its network of journalism partners in Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware.

To read the story, view a slideshow and listen to an audio feature, visit newsworks.org

For more information on osprey in New Jersey, visit njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/raptor_info.htm