Date: 1/11/26 3:18 pm From: Yvonne Stecher <000023c107b611bb-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [JERSEYBI] Red-shouldered hawk taking and eating suet from a hanging suet log feeder
I had one in my yard in northern Hunterdon County a few weeks ago for the first time in 21 years. Two days later I saw a perched Red-shouldered hawk in a different part of town. Probably/possibly the same bird but interesting that I haven't seen them here before and then two sightings. I have seen them before a couple towns over, but not here. Beautiful birds.
> On 01/11/2026 4:49 PM EST Joan Detyna <jdetyna...> wrote: > > > 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 > > > > > > List Guidelines: > > https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind2107&L=JERSEYBI&P=R685&X=OE8E22FEF3A2B10DFE5 > > > List help: <jerseybi-request...> > > > List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi > > > NJ Bird Records Committee: www.njbrc.com > > > > List Guidelines: > > https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind2107&L=JERSEYBI&P=R685&X=OE8E22FEF3A2B10DFE5 > > List help: <jerseybi-request...> > > List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi > > NJ Bird Records Committee: www.njbrc.com > > > > List Guidelines: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind2107&L=JERSEYBI&P=R685&X=OE8E22FEF3A2B10DFE5 > List help: <jerseybi-request...> > List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi > NJ Bird Records Committee: www.njbrc.com
