navigation bar
DEP Graphic  
Division of Parks and Forestry Graphic
parks home parks home njdep home
Cheesequake State Park
 

Cheesequake
State Park

Contents:

 

 

View the Osprey at Cheesequake State Park

During the spring and summer months Cheesequake State Park serves as the breeding grounds for two pair of nesting Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). This species is a threatened species in New Jersey. The Osprey migrates each spring from its wintering grounds in Central and Northern South America back to previous successful nesting sites. In 1997, the park attracted its first pair of nesting Osprey, which produced two fledglings. The Ospreys were listed as an endangered species, due to reproduction difficulties directly resulting from the DDT spraying of the marshes in the 1960’s. It was upgraded to a threatened species in the 1980’s. Presently their wintering habitat is under pressure as many areas are being cleared. The bird's diet consists of fish which are hunted in the nearby bay and estuaries. The birds can be viewed on their artificial nesting platforms from the Arrowsmith / Farry Point sections of the park along with the crabbing bridge area. You can follow the path of many migrating Osprey’s on the Internet.

bottom footer

parks and forestry: find a park | forestry | forest fire | natural lands | education | historic sites| historic preservation
department: njdep home | about dep | index by topic | programs/units | dep online
statewide: njhome | citizen | business | government | services A to Z | departments | search

Copyright © State of New Jersey, 1996-2021
Department of Environmental Protection
P. O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

Last Updated: November 15, 2004

nj home citizen business government services a to z departments dep home contact dep privacy notice legal statement accessibility statement nj home