NJ Nesting Platforms Give Eagles A Break, Prevent Power Outages

NEWARK, NJ — When birds build a nest on electrical equipment, it can work out poorly for them, and for people, too. But in partnership with wildlife and conservation groups, New Jersey’s largest gas and electric delivery public utility is trying to create a safer breeding environment for eagles and ospreys – and prevent power outages at the same time.

On World Wildlife Day, which took place March 3, PSE&G celebrated the return of the local eagle population to the special nesting platforms the company has built throughout the state.

PSE&G, which has a headquarters in Newark, offered Patch some details about the ongoing effort:

“Both eagles and ospreys have made a remarkable recovery in New Jersey, including in the Meadowlands, where there is ample open water for hunting their preferred diet of fish. Due to a lack of trees and prime natural-nesting habitat, these birds have taken to man-made structures – especially utility poles and towers.”

It’s a risky situation, the company says:

“When birds build a nest on electrical equipment it puts the nest in danger of catching fire, which can cause significant damage and outages to customers as well has harm to the birds. In partnership with multiple wildlife and conservation organizations, PSE&G has been preparing for the upcoming breeding season by inspecting known nesting areas, which include nesting platforms [we] built on or near transmission towers and poles.”

“We have at least six platforms that we have done in recent years,” a PSE&G spokesperson told Patch. “Many more have been done in the Meadowlands and down in Supawna Meadows.”

For the animals’ sake, people shouldn’t approach the nesting platforms or disturb them. But those who want to get a bird’s eye view of what the nesting platforms look like can check out an “eagle cam” set in Three Bridges/Hunterdon County … although it doesn’t currently have a nesting pair (see video below).

Bald eagles have nested on top of an electric transmission tower there since 2015, and have successfully raised up to 14 young, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ says.

The group writes:

“With the line of towers being replaced in 2020 by monopoles, PSE&G worked with Conserve Wildlife Foundation, the NJ Fish & Wildlife Endangered and Nongame Species Program, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the Three Bridges eagles would have every opportunity to continue nesting here. PSE&G designed a platform on the new monopole and placed the original nest on the platform once it was erected.”

After an initial period of seemingly observing the new nest platform from afar, the bald eagle pair began visiting the platform nest. Eventually, incubation was confirmed, and the pair successfully fledged two young, who were banded for future tracking. The livestream began last season after both young were banded for future tracking, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ stated.

Although it looks like the Three Bridges pair has chosen another location to nest this season, the camera has still been capturing some interesting wildlife, including a pair of mating kestrels.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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