Author Topic: ID Help: Merlins  (Read 11402 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline bcbird

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 2,443
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #37 on: January 29, 2012, 19:11 »
This is quite a bit of fun.  My husband and I did a couple of birds and found it very interesting.

Offline RCF

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 4,268
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #36 on: January 29, 2012, 15:05 »
 
Cornell University is working on a bird identification tool called "Merlin".  In order for the tool to work, they are seeking assistance from the public to help them understand how people view birds - what they notice, where they notice, etc.  Its a really simple serious of visual questions (what colours are in this bird's beak, how big is this bird, etc) that don't take more than a few minutes to do.  You can do it once or can "play" as much as you like.  Each time you participate you are helping them with their data collection process.  Its very cool to see what they are looking for.

If anyone wants to "play", here's the link - http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1189&ac=ac


I couldn't find this at first, and I figured others may not be able find it either, so this link takes you to where you can "play".

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/labs/default.aspx
« Last Edit: January 29, 2012, 15:12 by Rapidcitymbfan »

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #35 on: January 28, 2012, 21:57 »
Cornell University is working on a bird identification tool called "Merlin".  In order for the tool to work, they are seeking assistance from the public to help them understand how people view birds - what they notice, where they notice, etc.  Its a really simple serious of visual questions (what colours are in this bird's beak, how big is this bird, etc) that don't take more than a few minutes to do.  You can do it once or can "play" as much as you like.  Each time you participate you are helping them with their data collection process.  Its very cool to see what they are looking for.

If anyone wants to "play", here's the link - http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1189&ac=ac

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #34 on: May 20, 2010, 17:18 »


lighter, greyer male merlin
photo by ronaldok

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #33 on: May 20, 2010, 17:16 »


dark male merlin
photo by Aegolius

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #32 on: May 20, 2010, 17:00 »


female Merlin with a mouse
photo taken in Michigan by JR Post

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #31 on: May 20, 2010, 16:54 »
If you would like more information, including a sound clip, check out these links ...

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/id - Cornell University's All About Birds site
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Merlin/sounds - sound clip on the All About Birds site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(bird) - Wikipedia very good site
http://www.merlinfalconfoundation.org/ - Merlin Falcon Foundation in Washington State

and here's a pdf on Merlins from Alberta - http://www.burrowingowl.com/images/profiles/mefa.gif


And try Google Images - type "merlin falcon" or you will get lots of pictures of the wizard  ;)
« Last Edit: May 20, 2010, 17:03 by The Peregrine Chick »

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #30 on: May 20, 2010, 16:51 »
Hi Sable,

Sorry, I'm afraid I have bad news for you, its not a peregrine.  Our peregrines nest on ledges - cliffs in the wild, buildings in urban settings.  Your raptor is probably a Merlin (another falcon species) or perhaps a Coopers Hawk.  Take a look at your bird's tail, Merlins have bars across the tail.  Merlins would be my bet as you live in the Maples.  They can look very much like juvenile peregrines but they are much smaller.  The males sometimes have grey backs, some have malar stripes (moustaches) but they are thin compared with the peregrines.

Merlins don't make their own nests but rather take over old crows' nests, particularly in large spruce trees, but they will use any crows' nest in other tree species.  What kind of tree is the bird in most of the time?  Merlins and peregrines share alot of similar behaviours - courtship rituals, incubation and brooding, chick-rearing, and some hunting techniques.  Merlins don't "stoop" when they hunt like peregrines, they are fast woodland specialists, so they zip through/around/over/under trees, something that peregrines don't do alot, just too dangerous at the speeds they can fly.  Merlins also hunt smaller prey - basically birds ranging in size from sparrow to pigeon.  And they are exhibitionists when they eat - they love the tops of telephone poles and they are very enthusiastic eaters, lots of feathers flying!

As for bands, chances are it doesn't have any.  They have never been an at-risk species but some bird banders do band them when they catch them so its not impossible.  If there is a band, don't kill yourself reading it, you won't be able to, the band on them will be a FWS aluminium band which isn't meant to be read at a distance, rather returned to the Bird Banding office in Canada or the US if the bird ends up in rehab/captivity or dies/found dead.

Enjoy your Merlins, they are great birds and having them nest so close is a wonderful opportunity!!  If you have/get photos, please do email them to me at peregrinechick [at] species-at-risk.mb.ca.

SableLA737

  • Guest
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #29 on: May 20, 2010, 16:17 »
I live in the Maples.  I have peregrines in the large tree in my back lane.  I have seen the peregrines in this tree for the last 4 or 5 years.  In March/April there were two of them, every day, most of the day.  For the last month or so, it's been only one.  It is in the tree from early morning, (6:00 a.m.) to late at night.  I spend every minute I can when I'm at home, watching it feed and primp in the tree.  I can't see the band with my binoculars.  Does anyone know if the peregrines have names?  Pls help if you can.  Tks

Offline pmg

  • Phanatic
  • Chick
  • ***
  • Posts: 137
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #28 on: June 19, 2009, 23:24 »
Yes, that's a great way to describe merlin activity in the neighborhood. Good thing I grew up on a farm...so not squeamish about surviving in nature reality. My vegetarian grand daughters, on the other hand, don't really like hearing about what's been happening with our feathered neighbors. They do get really interested tho, in spite of the details :)

Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #27 on: June 19, 2009, 23:12 »
I like to refer to merlins as "over-enthusiastic diners"  :D

Offline pmg

  • Phanatic
  • Chick
  • ***
  • Posts: 137
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #26 on: June 19, 2009, 22:56 »
Graceful yes, except when you are dealing with their 'leftovers'. Very easy to know when they are talking to each other. It's noisy when their nest is next door. We laugh about it now, when we hear them on the rampage. I know...everyone has to live like they are evolved to do. It's good they have found places in the city to survive in. Gets very exciting when we watch the Jays chasing the squirrel while the merlin is zooming in on the Jay's tree...nature in action. Meanwhile the chicadees and wood peckers are sneaking a snack at the feeders.

Offline allikat

  • Phanatic
  • Old Bird
  • ***
  • Posts: 3,376
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #25 on: June 19, 2009, 22:36 »
Aren't merlins wonderful...I think they are so beautiful and graceful!


Offline The Peregrine Chick

  • Administrator
  • Old Bird
  • *****
  • Posts: 11,519
    • Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project (Manitoba)
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #24 on: June 19, 2009, 22:33 »
Merlins are how I got sucked into the peregrine project so I think they are neat birds ;)

Offline pmg

  • Phanatic
  • Chick
  • ***
  • Posts: 137
Re: ID Help: Merlins
« Reply #23 on: June 19, 2009, 21:31 »
yes, thank you for the link...my camera is woefully inadequate to take pics of the merlins who are keeping my neighborhood so exciting. They are wonderful to watch while they go about living and making a family here. Can't influence them to be vegetarians tho, I guess  :D