Osprey On New Mural In LBI Gets A Name

SHIP BOTTOM, NJ — A new mural on the Drifting Sands Hotel is raising awareness for a local bird. The two-story mural raises awareness for the New Jersey Osprey Project, and ongoing osprey conservation effort.

The Long Beach Island hotel also held a contest to name the mural's osprey. After receiving over 250 submissions, Drifting Sands named the bird "Libi."

"I chose ‘Libi' because Drifting Sands Hotel and the mural are located right at the entry point to Long Beach Island, aka ‘LBI,' which of course sounds like ‘Libi’ when you say it out loud,” said Evan Lovett, who painted the mural Aug. 9.

Maureen Maleki, of Burlington County, submitted the winning name. She will receive a two-night stay at Drifting Sands in 2020. The hotel will host a plaque dedication ceremony Friday before the Kite Festival.

The hotel share some other popular, meaningful and unique submissions:

• Amonce because “amoncellement” means “Drifting Sands” in French.
• Arlington, Arlly, and Arlo due to the proximity of Arlington Beach.
• 3 Libbys to express Long Beach Island pride.
• 2 Big Bens in honor of Ben Wurst, Conserve Wildlife Foundation Habitat Restoration Manager
• 52 names starting with O including 4 Olivers, 8 Ollies, 1 Olly Olly Oxen Free, 8 Oscars, 5 Ossies, 4 Oswalds, and 8 Ozzys.
• 8 Sandys
• Cookie, due to Man With A Plan actor Matt Cook growing up on Long Beach Island.
• Dorland, for the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge and its namesake, who developed a first-of-its-kind bridge lighting system in 1958.
• Sherry, in honor of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of New Jersey author Sherry Liguori.
• Piscatoris, which means “fisherman” in Latin.
• Axle Rose, Fluffy Nugget, and Trubador.

Check out a time-lapse video of the mural's creation:

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