MAURICE RIVER TWP. -- A live camera installed to watch a pair of ospreys building a new nest caught something else this weekend.

A half dozen boys were seen tossing trash into the nest and then mugging for the camera, apparently happy over their show of disrespect for nature.

"Honestly it seems like some kids that made a bad decision and then they wanted their five minutes of fame," said Joe Haase, leader of the 4-H group that built the platform where the nest is located. "Typical teenage behavior."

Members of the Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs 4-H Club are seen in early March building their osprey nesting platform near the East Point Lighthouse in Maurice River Township. (Facebook)

Now the public's help is being sought in identifying the boys caught on the camera which live-streams activity in the nest located near the East Point Lighthouse in the Bayshore region. New Jersey wildlife officials are also investigating the incident.

Haase said it was Saturday right at 8 p.m., that the camera caught the six approach the nesting platform, toss a cigarette pack in and then do a sort of celebratory dance -- all the time seemingly very aware that they were on camera.

The platform where the nest is located was built by members in Hasse's 4-H Club which is named "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs." Those involved include both boys and girls ranging in age from 5 to 13.

They had the idea they'd like to learn more about ospreys, raptors that thrive in the habitat along the state's Bayshore area.

"One of the projects that the kids wanted to get involved in was building an osprey nest," Haase said.

Completed in March, the platform is about 100 feet from the nearest roadway in the middle of marshland which is part of the state's Heislerville Wildlife Management Area in Cumberland County. The nesting area, which measures about 3 feet by 3 feet, is about 12 feet off the ground. A camera which live-streams all activities there is mounted on that platform.

Saturday's incident is not the first, Haase says. A stuffed chicken toy was thrown into the empty nest a few weeks ago but the ospreys didn't take kindly to that and picked up the chicken and dropped it in the marsh.

It was just about a week ago that the pair began actually building their nest. The male has been gathering materials and dropping them on the platform for the female to arrange, Haase said. Marsh grass, then phragmites were put in place and now sticks are coming in.

The live-streaming camera shows the building in progress.

As for the cigarette pack tossed in the nest, the birds have now buried it there. Law prohibits disturbing nesting ospreys so it will remain there, Haase said.

Besides, ospreys are very territorial. The teens who put trash there this weekend apparently didn't realize that had the ospreys been around they could have attacked them.

"I'm concerned parents weren't around and they allowed their kids to be unsupervised or they were there and watched them do it and said nothing," Haase said.

"Obviously, teenagers don't drive themselves out to the middle of nowhere."

A portable toilet was also found overturned near the nesting site. Officials are not sure if the teens were involved in that incident or not.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Spokesman Larry Hajna said Tuesday the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife is investigating the incident.

Haase said anyone who knows the identities of the boys seen tossing the trash in the nest should call the DEP's tipline at 1-877-WARNDEP.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.