Nesting Diaries
9:15 a.m. When I arrived I saw at least half dozen ravens perched and flying around the tower, but no eagles! I spoke with Doreen at the township offices. She was sure she saw eagles yesterday and was very excited at the prospect of having nesting eagles near her office! I gave her an osprey brochure as I had already given her an eagle brochure when I gave her my card.
Doreen wrote to me at 10:53 a.m. that the eagle pair was at the nest. I was already at the osprey nest on Strykers Rd by the time I read the email. I requested that she send a phone photo next time she sees them at this nest, even if the photo isn't so sharp.
8:30 a.m. I received a call from Doreen at the Knowlton Twp building. She said there were at least three eagles at the nest on the tower! She said there may have even been a fourth flying around the area. These eagles might be two pair, and one of the pair has built a "housekeeping nest" on what had been an osprey tower! I will keep my eyes on what unfolds! It is an odd time of year for nest building!
9:30 a.m. Parked in the Municipal lot again for a bike ride. No sign the nest had been built up further and I did not see or hear any birds on or near the tower.
2:15 p.m. After doing osprey nest checks in northern Warren County, I rode my bike in the area. We always meet and park in the large lot behind the Knowlton Municipal Building. As we finished the ride and were passing by the tower, I was shocked to see what appeared to be large birds on the posts and a nest on the second tier!!
Every year since I began surveying northwest Jersey osprey nests, I have checked this tower, and had never seen signs of any nest material nor any birds near the tower.
I set up my scope and sure enough, there was nesting material there although the nest did not look large nor "complete." The "birds" that I thought I could see either flew off, or I mistook part of the structure for a large, dark bird.
We meet in this parking lot to ride in the area quite frequently. In additon I drive right past this tower every time I do an eagle nest check in the water gap area--at least once a week. I always look at the tower! However, since mid-June I have not paid much attention to it since I had never seen any sign of nesting there.
I spoke with a woman (Doreen) who works in the building and goes out behind the building to smoke. She said about 3 weeks ago they were noticing large bird(s) carrying big sticks to the tower! Lately, this activity has not been observed. She seemed to feel that it was only about 3 weeks ago that the activity was initiated, and, indeed, on May 10 when I took my 2022 report photo, there was no sign of any nest material. This is very late for ospreys and eagles to be nest building. It must be a new pair building a "housekeeping" nest. It will be interesting to see what happens next season.
Doreen was not clear as to the type of bird, just that it was very large and carrying huge long sticks! Strangely, as we cycled into the parking lot, I heard an adult eagle calling (but not toward the tower, toward the other side of the building) but could not locate it in the dense foliage. I doubt an eagle would build a nest on the second tier of a tower. It is more likely ospreys that brought in the sticks!
9:28 a.m. For as long as I have been watching nests in northwest NJ, this tower has not had any nesting material on it, nor any ospreys present and perching nearby.
I have been by this tower numerous times during the past two years as we often park at the municipal center to begin bike rides in the area. I have not seen any evidence of osprey nor any nesting materials on this tower.
This tower is still void of any nesting material. Apparently it is not being used any more.
Every time I exit route 80 and drive to the Linaberry, Mt Hermon, and/or Hardwick Municipal Bldg nests I pass this tower. I continue to confirm there are no osprey present this year.
3:00 p.m. Had occasion to drive past this tower again and still saw no nesting or osprey present.
11:50 a.m. I saw no sign of any nesting material in this tower, nor any adult osprey in the area.