Friends,
In a little more than one month, we will start looking for “our” osprey to return to the nest near the IBSP Interpretive Center in the park's southern end. If you want to see the osprey arrive, rebuild their nest, lay up to four eggs, watch the eggs hatch, watch the adults feed their chicks and, if everything goes well, watch the juveniles take their first flight, we need to get the camera up and running.
But we need your help!
The current camera that was installed prior to Superstorm Sandy was the first osprey cam in New Jersey. It has since been plagued with issues, causing it to be offline much of last year.
This year, in order to continue to deliver the same video stream as in years past, FOIBSP will need to replace the camera and repair the solar equipment that powers it. We have volunteers with the expertise to make the repairs at no cost, and the Seaside Heights Fire Department will provide their ladder truck for free, which will enable our volunteer crew to remove the old camera and replace it with a new one.
But to do this, FOIBSP will need to buy a new high-definition camera and replace non-working equipment. We estimate it will cost $10,000 to get the camera running. In 2015, $81,000 was spent for a variety of equipment for the park, including supporting the operational needs of the lifeguards.
We need your donation now to help purchase a new camera that can be installed before the osprey return in March. And with our high-speed internet service, your viewing experience will be drastically enhanced. Please make a tax-deductible contribution that will be used exclusively for the osprey camera project.
Your donations can be sent in via Paypal using the link below (no account required).
If you’d rather send your donation through regular mail, you can do by addressing your letter to:
The Friends of Island Beach State Park
P.O. Box 406
Seaside Park, NJ 08752
