Date: 1/11/26 1:50 pm From: Joan Detyna <jdetyna...> Subject: Re: [JERSEYBI] Red-shouldered hawk taking and eating suet from a hanging suet log feeder
I live 3 miles south of Flemington, off of Everett’s Road.
I have had at least one Red-shouldered Hawk in my yard each winter season
since at least 2009. They used to fly along Everett’s Road. Most were
adults.
I have had more juveniles since 2019. There were two in 2021, one of which
was killed in a window strike after it was being harassed by a crow, I
think. His skin is now in Princeton University’s bird skin collection and
all my windows are covered with commercial grade anti-collision decals.
This season I have not yet had any Red-shoulders. The above is of course
not statistically significant but Carla’s question is an interesting one.
Joan Detyna
Raritan Township
On Sun, Jan 11, 2026 at 7:53 AM Carla Kelly-Mackey <
<00001c24612ab4ac-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> We live south of Flemington & I've noticed an increase in the number of
> red shouldered hawks. What used to be rare sightings are now not unusual.
> Maybe the population is establishing itself in the area? Just a thought.
>
>
>
> Carla Kelly-Mackey, Stockton
>
> Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
>
> On Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 5:08 PM, Jeffrey Climpson <
> <jkgreenwing...> wrote:
>
> > We live in a semi-suburban/semi-rural area near Flemington in Hunterdon
> > County. In recent weeks we have noticed a red-shouldered hawk frequenting
> > our yard and lately perching on our deck near our bird feeders. That's
> > when we noticed it was attempting (eventually successfully) - while
> > hovering a few feet above the deck - to use its talons to remove the suet
> > out of the suet log feeder we have hanging from a tree branch over the
> > deck. Very interesting behavior and a fun, nice, close look at a
> beautiful
> > raptor from about 15 to 20 feet away through a picture window. My
> question
> > is how did the bird even "know" what the suet was and that it was food?
> >
> > --Jeff Climpson
> > Flemington, NJ
> >
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