![\"merlin](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/merlin-2519-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI’ve had relatively few opportunities with Merlins but this one gave me several.<\/p>\n
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1\/2000, f\/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I believe it to be a female of the prairie subspecies (Falco columbarius richardsonii) and I was able to photograph her last week\u00a0on multiple occasions over several days along the same section of the South Road in Montana’s Centennial Valley. She was always hunting from\u00a0fence posts (perch hunting is their most common hunting technique) and even though the fences in that area\u00a0are a mix of old wood and ugly metal fence\u00a0posts, without exception she always\u00a0chose\u00a0one of the larger\u00a0wooden posts to perch on (which I was grateful for).<\/p>\n I couldn’t help but compare the behavior of this bird to that of its close cousin the American Kestrel. Kestrels seemed to be everywhere in the valley and they also tend to hunt from perches along the road but not one of them let me get close enough for quality images\u00a0during the week I was there. In contrast, this Merlin (the only one of its species I saw) let me approach and photograph it on five occasions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n And even though she didn’t give me much variety in poses you can see how comfortable she was in my presence as she groomed with her leg up. As is common in many Merlins, this bird lacks the distinct “mustache mark” that is typical of most other North American falcons.<\/p>\n Merlins, only slightly larger than a kestrel,\u00a0aren’t used much in falconry (read Mark Runnel’s comment below for a modification of that statement)\u00a0because their small size makes them unsuitable for hawking large quarry but in Medieval Europe they became popular as a “lady’s hawk” and were used in the now classical “ringing flights” (where both prey and pursuer fly in circles as they climb)\u00a0directed primarily at the Skylark. Mary Queen of Scots and Catherine the Great were enthusiastic practitioners of the sport. These “lark flights” have continued in Great Britain as a tradition but falconers are now under public pressure to stop the practice. In North America a small but enthusiastic group of falconers uses Merlins to fly at quarry ranging from doves to sparrows. They’re too small to take larger prey but their speed and tremendous heart have earned them a loyal following among some\u00a0falconers.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n PS – I’ve now returned home from my Montana camping trip. The weather and light were wonderful for the entire week I was gone and I found a variety of cooperative birds. Now comes the task of catching up on chores and culling 5K images. Many thanks to my readers for your support while I was gone when I couldn’t respond appropriately to comments. Much appreciated!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’ve had relatively few opportunities with Merlins but this one gave me several.<\/p>\n![\"merlin](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/merlin-2465-ron-dudley.jpg\")
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