The bald eagle and osprey no longer in danger in New Jersey
Once dwindling due to insecticide use and other environmental harms, the birds have made a significant come-back.
New Jersey is saying, “Go birds!”
The bald eagle and the osprey were both removed from the state’s list of at-risk species list this week through regulatory changes by Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration.
The bald eagle’s status in New Jersey was changed from endangered to special concern, and the osprey from threatened to stable. These upgrades are based on determinations by the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife agency that these birds’ populations have recovered to the point where their survival in the Garden State is no longer in jeopardy.
“This action is indeed a significant milestone in the history of endangered species conservation and recovery in New Jersey and is the result of the passion and commitment of many people over the past 40-plus years to restore wildlife that were on the brink of extirpation in New Jersey,” said state DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.
» READ MORE: Bald eagle no longer endangered in New Jersey, state officials say
The change was announced Monday.
In the 1970s and early 1980s, New Jersey had only one remaining bald eagle nest — a pair in a remote area of Cumberland County. The state’s population had been devastated by the widespread use of the insecticide DDT, along with habitat degradation and other human disturbances.
The federal government banned the use of DDT in 1972, and recovery efforts began in New Jersey in the early 1980s with the reintroduction of eagles from Canada, along with artificial insemination and fostering efforts. In 2007, thes majestic birds were removed from the federal endangered species list but retained their endangered status in New Jersey.
But they continued to show gains. In 2024, the number of nesting pairs in New Jersey had surged to 293, with 264 laying eggs. Today, bald eagles can be found throughout the state, with their numbers highest along the Delaware Bay.
Ospreys’ numbers were also greatly dwindled by DDT — down to about 50 nests statewide by the early 1970s. Innovative recovery efforts, including supplying nest platforms, led to significant gains in osprey nests. About 800 occupied nests were documented in 2023.
“The success of the bald eagle and osprey in New Jersey can be attributed to so many dedicated and hardworking individuals and partners,” said state Endangered and Nongame Species Program chief Kathy Clark. “These species would have been lost without years of work to understand the threats and enhance conditions to allow eagles and ospreys to thrive and recover. This was a long-term commitment not only by the state, but also conservationists from nonprofit organizations and our incredibly dedicated volunteers.”
Last month, President Joe Biden signed legislation that made the bald eagle our national bird.