Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 18:30:11 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Norm Saunders Subject: Re: Two Raptor Day in Baltimore In-Reply-To: <137.27c908f2.2ceaada2@aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Bryce Butler writes: > I'm from Seattle where Merlins are around all winter.=20 > Do Merlins overwinter here, or was this bird in migration? > > I have the same question about the Cooper's Hawk overwintering or > migrating. Ahh, now here is a man who needs a Yellow Book! Bryce, the Yellow Book, also known as "Field List of the Birds of Maryland," says that Merlins begin to arrive in August and are here in relatively small numbers until they head north in late April and early May. They have been reported in all 23 of Maryland's counties and are a pleasant fall/winter sighting. It's not rare but uncommon enough to make it a pleasure to locate. Preferred habitats are noted as 1) ocean beaches & sand flats; 2) hawk migration corridors; 3) wood margins, hedgerows, and scrub; and 4) salt marshes. Your sighting in downtown Baltimore is probably one you should be pleased with. Cooper's Hawk is a year-round bird, with current breeding records in every one of Maryland's 23 counties. Their numbers swell slightly in October, over the winter, and the migrants begin to leave in March and April. Habitat includes 1) wood margins, hedgerows, and scrub; 2)upland deciduous forests (primary breeding habitat); 3) hawk migration corridors; and 4) salt marshes. See why a copy of the Yellow Book would come in handy? Go to the MOS website at http://www.mdbirds.org/publications/yellowbook.html for information about the publication and how to order your copy (get lots of them, one for every car, a couple for the home and office, etc etc. They are both cheap to buy and priceless to own if you bird in Maryland! Best, Norm =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Norm Saunders Colesville and West Ocean City, MD marshhawk@att.net =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =========================================================================