Merlins Thriving in the Yorkshire Dales

The below was recently posted on the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group Facebook page:

Heartening pictures taken in the last few days by our keepers. The first is a clutch of merlin eggs that were discovered at 1500+ feet above sea level. Note the longer heather that is left for them to utilise.

The second picture is a more advanced brood of four merlins at the stage ready for ringing. All the moor keepers in YDMG are enthusiastic partners in a long term merlin study programme. This involves reporting nests, monitoring broods with restricted nest visits and supporting any ringing that may take place. All activities conducted under a Schedule 1 licence.

As ground-nesting birds and the UK’s smallest raptor, these little falcons are beneficiaries of the reduction of generalist predators like foxes and stoats. The merlin is doing very well on our moors with most estates having between one and five nests depending on size and elevation. The nest with eggs in the photograph is unusual as most of our merlin nests tend to be on lower altitudes.

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