Summary

Description

We found 16 nests during 1988 with an additional brood being observed in late July. Mean clutch size for 1988 was 4.6 eggs per nest found. We attempted to capture adults at 15 nest sites. We captured 28 or 93 percent of the 30 adults. A total of 63 nestlings were banded from 527 July. Radiotelemetry data were collected for a total of 25.5 hours over 9 days from 11 to 30 July. We continued to experience phenomenal success capturing adults using a great horned owl as a lure. We were concerned that adults experienced with this trapping technique would be less likely to be retrapped than inexperienced birds, but it appears that prior captures do not influence the likelihood that a merlin will be caught again.