Merlin Hunting House Sparrows Above the Bellingham Herald
Oil on Canvas
30" x 40"
2020
30" x 40"
2020
Merlins are a small species of falcon that primarily hunt small songbirds. Their ideal environment contains a variety of tall perches for different activities. In Washington State, that environment would ordinarily be an old growth forest, although deforestation has greatly reduced this habitat in recent history. When present in human-altered habitats, Merlins actively seek out breeding sites similar to old growth forests. Merlins have done surprisingly well in urban residential areas compared to intermediate forests and rural habitats. The first pair of urban breeding Merlins in Washington State nested in Bellingham in 2000.
While their preferred habitat of old growth forests has receded, Merlins receive some benefits from urban areas that they do not find in intermediate forests or rural habitats. Urban areas serve as a home for some preferred Merlin prey, like House Sparrows. Cities also attract crow species. Merlins do not build their own nests; they are opportunists and most frequently use old crow nests, and have followed crows into cities. Predators of Merlins are also 46.3% less likely to be found in urban areas compared old growth and mature forest sites (Drummond 2019).
The benefits of urban living have outweighed the drawbacks enough to result in the continual recent success of urban Merlins, especially due to the deforestation of the Merlins’ natural old growth forest habitat and the spread of urbanization. This painting illuminates the success of Merlins in Washington’s urban environments as a Merlin chases House Sparrows above the Bellingham Herald building.
While their preferred habitat of old growth forests has receded, Merlins receive some benefits from urban areas that they do not find in intermediate forests or rural habitats. Urban areas serve as a home for some preferred Merlin prey, like House Sparrows. Cities also attract crow species. Merlins do not build their own nests; they are opportunists and most frequently use old crow nests, and have followed crows into cities. Predators of Merlins are also 46.3% less likely to be found in urban areas compared old growth and mature forest sites (Drummond 2019).
The benefits of urban living have outweighed the drawbacks enough to result in the continual recent success of urban Merlins, especially due to the deforestation of the Merlins’ natural old growth forest habitat and the spread of urbanization. This painting illuminates the success of Merlins in Washington’s urban environments as a Merlin chases House Sparrows above the Bellingham Herald building.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2020. All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. https://www.allaboutbirds.org. Accessed June 2020.
Drummond, David. 2019. “Coastal Forest Merlin (Falco Columbarius Suckleyi) Breeding Habitat and Climatic Influences on Fledgeling Success in Washington State and British Columbia.” Coastal Forest Merlin Project.
Drummond, David. 2014. Coastal Forest Merlin Project, https://coastalforestmerlinproject.org/. Accessed April 2020.
eBird. 2020. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, http://www.ebird.org/map. Accessed June 2020.
Urban Raptor Conservancy. 2019. “Seattle Raptors.” www.urbanraptorconservancy.org/seattle-urban-raptors/. Accessed June 2020.
Drummond, David. 2019. “Coastal Forest Merlin (Falco Columbarius Suckleyi) Breeding Habitat and Climatic Influences on Fledgeling Success in Washington State and British Columbia.” Coastal Forest Merlin Project.
Drummond, David. 2014. Coastal Forest Merlin Project, https://coastalforestmerlinproject.org/. Accessed April 2020.
eBird. 2020. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, http://www.ebird.org/map. Accessed June 2020.
Urban Raptor Conservancy. 2019. “Seattle Raptors.” www.urbanraptorconservancy.org/seattle-urban-raptors/. Accessed June 2020.