Published By US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Issued over 9 years ago
Summary
Description
Seventeen merlin nests were located in the vicinity of the road corridor in Denali National Park and Preserve. Eleven nest sites were in live spruce trees, one was in a spruce snag, one was in a willow, and four were on the ground. Mean clutch size was 4.8 n 9. Fiftytwo nestlings were banded, representing 3.25 young banded per active nest for nests where the outcome was known n 16. A total of 25 adult merlins were captured, representing 19 unbanded and six previously banded individuals. Since the adult trapping efforts began in earnest in 1987, four nestling males have been recaptured as breeders, while no females banded as nestlings have been encountered. Environmental contaminant analysis of three addled eggs collected in 1988 has been completed and the organochlorine scan indicated an arithmetic mean of 7.5 ppm wet weight DDE. Trace amounts of otherorganochlorines were found, notably mirex, which is used in the southern U.S., central and South America.