Add one more set of Seattle area nesting Merlins to Marv Breece's
interesting local weekend last tally (22 including juvies). I too have a family of
Merlins currently in the most entertaining process of fledgling young in
my yard here in Bellevue (Eastgate, <1 mile south of I-90 exit 11). I'm not
sure yet how many, perhaps up to four. Activity has really ramped up
these past couple of weeks and the otherwise quiet mornings most oft pierced
with the quite noisy adults as they are constantly flying about, calling,
and keeping tabs on the new fledglings and fend off the crows. I'm not
complaining since having such distinguished residents doesn't happen around here
much if at all.

Back in mid-April, I posted a message regarding nesting American Kestrels
which in 2011 fledged 4-5 young and happened in the same grove of Douglas
Firs which I thought a bit unusual given the type of habitat and typical
widespread average fairly broken forested older Seattle area neighborhood.
Back in March to mid-April, the Kestrels were back and it looked like they
were setting up shop to do it all over again. Then, I went away on a field
assignment until late May. Upon my return and not paying real close
attention, I still noted the periodic calls of 'small falcons', similar but
definitely 'different' from the more familiar American Kestrels and all the
carrying on that took place last summer. Suspicious roused, closer inspection
revealed the falcons in question were Merlins. What happened to the
American Kestrels during my absence??? A territorial dispute with the Kestrels
getting ousted by the invading Merlins??? Hmm..., most curious.

These small falcons don't share the same nesting habitat exactly though
both seem to like this older 1950's era Eastgate neighborhood and the exact
same tall Douglas Firs. American Kestrels are usually cavity nesters,
Merlins not and often take over old corvid nests. Until this summer, save for a
couple one moment wonders with winter time Merlins flying through during
the past 20 years, the American Kestrel was the occasional small falcon seen
annually off and on around here until last summer when they nested and
were just as conspicuous and noisy during the fledging weeks that in 2011
continued into August, and much the same as the current family of Merlins
appear to be going through now. Anyway, a nice turn of good fortune and
something 'different' from the otherwise routine and expected plus a new 'sound'
(call) which I can't recall having actually ever heard before. Why this
sudden surge in local nesting Merlins in the Seattle area and western
Washington lowlands now where before 2008 it was virtually unheard of is quite
curious indeed.

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue(Eastgate), WA
Pterodroma AT aol.com