Future Of Bald Eagles, Ospreys Is Soaring In New Jersey (VIDEO)

NEW JERSEY — It took decades of hard work, partnerships and compassion for the natural world. But the future is finally looking much brighter for bald eagles and ospreys in New Jersey, state officials say.

On Monday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced that it is proposing to remove bald eagles and ospreys from the state’s list of endangered species.

The rule proposal is based on a finding that “populations of these birds have recovered to the point where the survival of these species in the state is no longer in jeopardy,” NJDEP officials said. The agency will accept public comment on the rule proposal through Aug. 2.

Things once looked bleak for both bird species in the Garden State due to the widespread use of a hazardous insecticide, DDT, and other threats, including habitat degradation and human disturbances. In the 1970s and into the early 1980s, New Jersey had just one remaining bald eagle nest: a pair in a remote part of Cumberland County.

But over the past 10 to 15 years – partly due to a federal ban on DDT – things have really been turning around for the better, officials said.

Recovery efforts in New Jersey began in the early 1980s, with reintroduction of eagles from Canada and artificial incubation and fostering efforts that started to pay dividends throughout the 1990s. Active nests surpassed 100 for the first time in decades by hitting 119 in 2012. Ten years later, the total had more than doubled to 250.

In 2023, New Jersey boasted a record 267 nesting pairs of bald eagles, of which 255 laid eggs. Today, bald eagles can be found in virtually every area of the state, with their highest numbers found along Delaware Bay, which is rich in protected marshlands and coastal creeks that provide an ideal habitat.

The federal government removed the bald eagle from its list of endangered species in 2007, reflecting strong gains in the population throughout the nation – although biologists and state officials in New Jersey remained more cautious.

It’s a similar story for ospreys, which also known as fish hawks, officials said:

“Also affected greatly by DDT use, the number of osprey nests left in the state dwindled to about 50 by the early 1970s. In the early 1970s, state biologists began an innovative recovery effort to place young and eggs from nests where DDT was not used as heavily into nests that failed to produce young. In addition, they coordinated efforts to supply nest platforms for the birds, substitutes for snags and trees that were lost as the coastline became more developed in the 1950s. In 2023, biologists for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ documented a record 800 occupied osprey nests.”

NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the dramatic turnaround is a testament to the dedication of countless environmental workers and volunteers, who “stood watch over nests in all forms of weather, nurtured hatchlings and worked tirelessly to educate the public.”

“Because of their efforts, people across the state today can thrill at the sight of bald eagles gliding above their massive tree-top nests or ospreys diving into a coastal creek to snare a fish,” LaTourette said.

The commissioner added that the plan is to continue moving forward – not backwards – when it comes to protecting bald eagles and ospreys in the Garden State.

“While we celebrate these successes, we must remain vigilant in ensuring that these species continue to thrive and be ever mindful that endangered species continue to need our help,” LaTourette said.

Kathy Clark, chief of the NJDEP Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program, said the recovery of the two species is a “huge milestone” for the state.

“Many people have worked for years and decades to bring these species back from the brink, including biologists, volunteers, and all those who protect and steward habitat for rare wildlife,” Clark said. “This is an achievement for all those who work on behalf of the natural ecosystems of New Jersey.”

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