A Full House At Island Beach State Park Osprey Nest

Dad's going to be busy. Very busy.

Now that all four osprey chicks in the nest near Island Beach State Park's Interpretive Center are wobbling around, the male osprey has his work cut out for him.

The fledglings will need about seven pounds of fish a day to survive, says Ben Wurst.

"He's got to be super active to feed all those fledglings," Wurst said.

As long as the male osprey can provide enough food each day, there's a good possibility all four chicks will survive, he said.

"If they have enough prey, all four should survive," Wurst said.

The oldest chick, born on Memorial Day, has the greatest advantage since it is larger and stronger than the chicks born later, he said.

"They're a bit like chickens," Wurst said. "They have a pecking order. The biggest one gets up first. But when there's enough food, the older chicks get full first. Then they can barely hold their heads up. Then the little guys get in there."

The nest will also get a little cramped as the chicks get bigger.

"That nest there is pretty substantial," Wurst said. "When they get to be six weeks old, it gets a little crowded."

The babies will be banded either the last week of June or the first week of July, he said.

Viewers can watch the little family in the nest 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by clicking here : http://stream.thefriendsofislandbeach.org/

The nonprofit Friends of Island Beach State Park purchased the Osprey Cam back in 2011.