As I finished a walk through the Pilot Knob Prairie Restoration, the calls of a Merlin from woods on Acacia Cemetery's northeast border drew my attention. I was headed out of the Prairie area, on the blacktop road, when the bird flew along the east border of the cemetery with something in its talons. She landed in one of the tall conifers at the edge of the road, close to the cemetery entrance, and commenced plucking at her prey. However, a large number of people were arriving, presumably for the scheduled 10:00 Memorial Service. The Merlin grew agitated, and took off over the north edge of the cemetery, headed back toward the woods. Perhaps this is one of the pair that has nested in Acacia the past few years. or one of their offspring. There was no sign of them when I checked Acacia several weeks ago, while there has been a pair reported nesting to the east, by Smith Avenue. In any case, it was nice to see one there again, even if temporarily, and it will merit more investigation. Linda Whyte
---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
