Expert: Julia Booth - 12/19/2008

Question
QUESTION: Dec 2008, New Jersey Pine Barrens, south Jersey, a raptor- looking bird, white breast, white belly underneath, grey topside with black markings on top of head and wing, fanned tail with spots or squares of black, grey, white.  Maybe more colors like tail on back, not sure.  Striking looking tail.  Was hopping all around our tree line looking for something on the ground.  Head kept looking all around.   Then flew away.  It scared off all the small birds and squirrels from our suet feeder when it came around.  About the size of a red tailed hawk, mabye smaller.  First time I saw this type of bird.  Thank you.  (RAPTORS ARE AWESOME).

ANSWER: Well based on your description, nothing specific comes to mind. I'm thinking that -as tends to be the case when someone is trying to describe to me what they saw over the Internet- there is going to be some discrepancy between what you actually saw and what I'm picturing based on your description.

That being said, here is a list of all the raptors likely to be found in the Pine Barrens. The Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks are those most likely to be found frequenting bird feeders, to attack smaller birds. As far as whether or not there's anything you can do to "attract" raptors to your yard, you apparently aren't having a problem. Raptors who feed on smaller birds will always be attracted to yards with highly populated bird feeders. Other than releasing large numbers of rodents and live prey to run free on your property, there are no other ways to "attract" raptors.

Osprey
Swallow-tailed Kite
Mississippi Kite
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon

Good luck,


Julia

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks to your info, I first looked at side by side photos online of both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks and I think it was a Cooper's hawk in our yard, it looked very much like it.  Besides seeing and hearing Red-tailed hawks flying very high above our yard, this was the first raptor I ever saw in our yard, and the first Cooper's hawk I ever saw.  I think raptors are increasing in number over the years around here - the underground voles that dig tunnels and mounds have exploded in population around here the last few years.  

Thanks again, I could not easily find the list of all the raptors in our area, so it was wonderful you gave me that - it is very helpful!  Just wondering, is there anywhere in New Jersey or nearby, where an inexperienced person could get one or two lessons in falconry just to experience it?

Answer
I personally do not have too much knowledge about falconry. Are you the person who asked about it before?

www.geocities.com/jerseyfalconryclub/ (covers the entire state)

www.n-a-f-a.org/ (has listings by location)

Falconry is generally not something you get one or two 'lessons' in. You're apprenticed by a "master" for a period of 1-3 years. You might be able to find someone who would allow you to observe and perhaps handle the bird. It looks like this website has information about that:

http://www.adirondackholiday.com/falconry.html

Department of fish and game info about raptors found in your area:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/raptor_info.htm

Pine Barrens Birding association:

www.pinebarrens.org/birdwatching.asp

Good luck,

Julia