Home
Scholarly Works
Breeding ecology of the Merlin Falco columbarius...
Journal article

Breeding ecology of the Merlin Falco columbarius in Shetland

Abstract

The breeding Merlin population in Shetland declined by about 50% between 1981 and 1983, and in 1982 breeding success was low at only 50%. Since then the population has substantially recovered and on average 68% of nesting pairs have been successful. However, 97% of nest failures occurred at the egg stage, with 59% apparently due to egg breakage by the Merlins themselves. The causes of the reduction in population and breeding success are not known; adverse weather conditions and nest predation were unlikely to have been significant, and levels of organochlorine residues and PCBs in addled eggs were low in comparison with Britain as a whole. However, mercury levels were the highest recorded in Britain and may have been implicated in nest failures.

Authors

Ellis PM; Okill JD

Journal

Bird Study, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 101–110

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Publication Date

July 1, 1990

DOI

10.1080/00063659009477045

ISSN

0006-3657

Contact the Experts team