(Falco columbarius)
Migration Timeframe:
A few Merlins may be spotted passing through in August,
but their biggest push is around mid-September. Their numbers are still
typically good in early October with a decline toward the end of the
month.
Merlins are infrequent migrants, but a few may still be observed
into late November. In the last 10 years a grand total of 22 Merlins
(3%) have been recorded in the month of November. Click on the graph
to the right to enlarge it ...then just use the
"X" to close the pop-up window when you're done.
|
Year |
Peak Week |
Avg |
|
2002-2007 |
Sep 22-28 |
34 |
|
Year |
Peak Week |
Count |
|
2008 |
Sep 15-21 |
36 |
|
Year |
Earliest
Obs |
Count |
Year |
Latest
Obs |
Count |
|
2002-2007 |
Sep 01 2007 |
2 |
2002-2007 |
Nov 21 2007 |
1 |
|
2008 |
Sep 04 |
1 |
2008 |
Nov 17 |
1 |
Where to Watch:
The Merlin is a tough bird to peg
to a specific flight line through the hawkwatch
area...they simply seem to go almost anywhere and
everywhere they like. They are VERY speedy flyers in
level flight...and usually cross through the
hawkwatch area so fast that visitors who blink will
miss them!
High Counts:
During their peak timeframe, it's definitely worth getting there
first thing in the morning to catch these speedsters! They often seem to continue
to move later in the afternoon as well, after most other species
have settled for the night.
|
1-Year |
Count |
1-Month |
Count |
|
2007 |
265 |
Sep 2007 |
192 |
|
1-Day |
Count |
1-Hour |
Count |
|
Sep 28 2007 |
38 |
Sep 10 2006 |
25 |
Yearly Totals:
The yearly totals for Merlins was disappointing with just 104
tallied...well below both the 10-year and 5-year averages . (averages are based on 1998-2007 and
2003-2007 counts).
|
Year |
Count |
Year |
Count |
Year |
Count |
|
1995 |
130 |
2000 |
55 |
2005 |
188 |
|
1996 |
36 |
2001 |
69 |
2006 |
237 |
|
1997 |
84 |
2002 |
142 |
2007 |
265 |
|
1998 |
53 |
2003 |
104 |
2008 |
104 |
|
1999 |
116 |
2004 |
72 |
2009 |
N/A |
|
10-Yr Avg |
5-Yr Avg |
|
130 |
173 |
Interesting Facts:
-
This species has a population of "city" birds
that can typically be found over wintering in urban centres.
-
Those that do migrate will wander as far as
Dominican Republic, Columbia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the
Greater Antilles. Others remain in Canada and down through
to the southern U.S.
-
Merlins are sexually dimorphic with no size overlap between each
sub-species
-
The sub-species of Taiga Merlins (aka Boreal Merlins), breed in
our northern Boreal Forests and the Taiga Zone
-
Many stop briefly to perch in the "Merlin Tree" right above the
main count site...sometimes bringing a snack to munch on. :)
