Burlington. ON. February 21 2024. Last April I reported on the appearance of a pair of Merlins who had taken a sudden interest in an active nest of American Crow’s. That interest turned out to be an expression of intent because before long the Merlins had evicted the crows and in due course produce one youngster. It was all happening right in front of our house and in the same Norway Spruce in which we had, or perhaps still have, a resident roosting Eastern Screech Owl. (With reference to the post of ten days ago, that owl returned to the same spot on the branch for four or five days. It may well be there still, close even if unseen by mortals.)
Well today the Merlins came back. I was tending to minor garden chores when I heard the familiar chittering, a glance up and immediately found it at the tip of the spruce. I made a dash indoors for my camera and was able to get a few decent shots. A few minutes later its mate made a sweeping fly-past and the two of them took off together.
This reappearance raises several questions: are these the same birds, one or both, as last year? Or could today’s bird be last year’s youngster? If it’s a pair and if they stay to breed, will they re-use the same nest? Probably not. Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s authoritative Birds of the World says, “Rarely use the same nest in 2 consecutive years.” Rarely but not never; time will tell.
The day was one of those rare spring-like February days, good for garden chores although doubtless there will be plenty more winter days ahead. There was other bird song around, principally a House Finch and the long whistled notes of a Northern Cardinal, but an appearance of Merlins was very special and they were My Birds of the Day.
What a beautiful bird. Thank you Peter. The last thing I would want nesting near my feeders! A Merlin was haunting mine during migration for a few days years back. Glad when she moved on.