I love Merlins and Merlin reports and people who send in Merlin reports. I check them all out. . Thanks to such reports, I have observed an increasing number of incubated nests in Tompkins County as follows: 2 (2014), 6 (2015), 6 (2016), 5 (2017), 3(2018), 6 (2019), 9 (2020). These include pairs in Trumansburg, Lansing, Dryden, Freeville, Etna, and Ithaca (plus hints of a pair in Groton). Local observers provided guidance to almost all of these. I have written one paper on this, and am trying to write a more complete paper including habitat choice. Interestingly, all nests have been in urban/suburban areas. None in forests nor edge of forest nor edge of lake. Merlins start egg-laying in early May. Observations in late March are helpful by providing a hint about where they may finally nest. For instance, the pair observed by so many at Myer's Pint never nested there. Weeks after being seen at Myer's Point, there was a pair about 800 m east closer to the Catholic church. I would love to have individuals provide me with their observations at confergoldw...@aol.com Thanks, John --
Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
