Frank Rennie talks to us about The Merlin.
Could you tell us a little about your background and when your fascination with the Merlin began?
I am a natural scientist, with a PhD in geology, and I have worked both as a Scientific Officer for the old Nature Conservancy Council, and for 30+ years as a lecturer and researcher with the University of the Highlands and Islands. My interest in the Merlin began nearly 40 years ago. I was doing some fieldwork in the Highlands of Scotland and I became aware of a Merlin, silently watching me among the trees. It was nesting very near the hill-cottage where I was living, so I got to see a lot of him, and the more I saw, the more I wanted to find out more about how this wonderful small falcon interacted with its natural environment.
Female Eurasian Merlin on plucking post with prey in the Isle of Barra, Scotland © Bruce Taylor
What kind of fieldwork and research was involved in the creation of the book?
The book took about three years of daily work to write, but you could say that the text was decades in the making. I am fortunate that the great peatland area of the north of the Isle of Lewis is right outside my door, and this protected region is a haven for wildlife, including a key location for the Merlin. The breeding sites are far out on the moor, so a lot of hard walking is required to survey the sites, but on a good day it is a fantastic experience. Over the years, I have built up a huge collection of scientific articles relating to the Merlin, utilising a variety of libraries, and of course downloading from specialist websites, so I have used these to provide an overview, and tried to include the web address of as many sources as possible in the reference section of the book, so readers can have the pleasure of locating the original research papers and enjoying the details for themselves.
Four Merlin chicks, about a week old, in nest in deep Heather (Isle of Lewis) © Frank Rennie
The Merlin highlights a variety of contrasting behaviours across the range of the species, could you give us an example of one of the differences?
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Merlin is its surprising ability to adapt to changing circumstances. There are several behaviours that really intrigue me, in its hunting methods and reproductive activities, but the thing that impressed me most is the fact that in some parts of the world some Merlins have stopped migrating. In some Canadian cities, for instance, Merlins take advantage of new nesting opportunities, as well as the year-round availability of songbirds, and remain in the cities throughout the year. This also has the advantage that they are often able to reoccupy the best nesting territories before migrating Merlins return, so we may see a progressive increase in this behaviour in future years.
Female Steppe Merlin, taken in Western India © Dhairya Dixit
The word ‘magical’ is often used in reference to the Merlin. What, for you, makes the word an appropriate descriptor?
Sometimes people seem to associate the Merlin (bird) with the legendary wizard of Camelot with the same name, but there is no doubt that the bird itself can produce some surprising tricks. Relatively recent discoveries seem to indicate that Merlins adjust their hunting tactics according to each situation, so when pursuing a Skylark, the strength of the Skylark's song appears to be an indicator of its fitness, with poorly singing birds being captured more often and with strongly singing birds only pursued briefly by the Merlin. Also, in the absence of larger raptors in the locality, such as Peregrines, the Merlins can act at the apex predator, but when the Peregrines return, the Merlins adapt their hunting tactics to be less visible and avoid competition with the Peregrines. There is so much more that we can learn about these fascinating birds.
Male Richardson’s Merlin, feeding while perched in the fork of a tree © Bruce Haak
Of your years spent observing the Merlin, do any experiences stand out as favourite or most memorable?
I have had many memorable days searching for, and watching, Merlins, but some of the most memorable have been on the few occasions near the start of the breeding season when a pair have been spotted in the pre-mating rituals of courtship flights. This behaviour is observed relatively infrequently - it's a case of being lucky to be in the right place at the right time - and in fact several decades ago some birdwatchers even claimed that Merlins did not engage in courtship flight as it was so rarely seen. The vitality of the aerial dynamics as the pair circle, twist, and loop around in the sky can be breathtaking, and really shows off the Merlin's flying skills. Catching the whole display can give an observer quite an adrenalin rush!
Immature Eurasian Merlin in the Isle of Barra, Scotland © Bruce Taylor
What advice would you give someone looking to support the conservation of our smallest falcon?
Probably the best thing to do is to leave them alone to do their own thing. Apart from regional habitat change, they are not a globally threatened species, but they can be quite sensitive to disturbance in some locations. If you are fit, and sufficiently interested, you might want to volunteer with a local Raptor Studies Group to help monitor breeding sites and breeding success.
Learn more about The Merlin here.
