Osprey

What: Osprey

Where:  Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (800 Great Creek Road, Galloway, New Jersey 08205)

When: Summers

How: The refuge has an unpaved loop, you may drive your vehicle in or ride bicycle with a monocular or a long range binoculars. Photographers- take out your telephoto lens with a fast shutter capable camera.

Suitable for: Kids & Family Education, Photographers, Wildlife Enthusiasts

Osprey is a large unique raptor, reaching more than 24 in in length and 71 in across the wings.  It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.

The bird is known for it's live fish diet and it's ability to dive into water to catch fishes.

The nest site is usually on top of large tree. At the refuge there are a couple of sites build with a box laid on top of a high pole. The nest is built by both male and female using bulky pile of sticks, lined with smaller materials. The same nest is used for years with the addition of more and more material each year making it huge with time.

Female remains with young most of time at first, sheltering them from sun and rain; male brings fish, female feeds them to young.

About the Refuge

The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 47,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats.

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