Species of Interest-Merlin

Merlin

Recording of this species on the Grand Forks - East Grand Forks CBC began in the late 1970s. Thereafter it has been recorded on almost every CBC with as many as 3-5 individuals seen on some counts. In the Spring of 1998, calling birds were noted in April in the Memorial Cemetery where a nest site was soon discovered. However, this nest failed by mid-May. Later in the same summer, a pair (the same pair?) was reported to be present in a yard near Wesley Methodist Church. This nest was successful. In the Summer of 1999, it was a surprise to find them nesting in the yard of the fraternity house at the northwest corner of University and Columbia Road, one of the busiest intersections in town. The last two years the birds (same pair?) have nested on Hamline near 6th Ave N. In each case, the nest has been located in an old crow's nest in the upper part of a spruce tree. The birds are very vocal at times around the nest site. The calls are a chattering series of notes. The male is especially vocal as it approaches the nest tree with food. Initiation of nesting in Grand Forks (perhaps the first nesting record for eastern North Dakota) was not a complete surprise as the prairie race of Merlin has been nesting in cities/towns in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta for some time. In recent years Merlins along with Cooper's Hawks have adapted well to the urban environment where their main concerns and threats are from crows and not people.

Back to List