In the Middle Ages, falconers called merlins (Falco columbarius) "lady hawks," and noblewomen used them to hunt sky larks. These small, fierce falcons became endangered because of DDT, but have made a comeback and now can be spotted on shorelines hunting small birds and dragonflies.
Merlin, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Sept. 27, 2017
The merlins filmed in the Filming the Feathers video were seen in Central Park on March 9, 2015; at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens on Aug. 16, Sept.23, Sept. 27 and Oct. 3, 2017; and over the beach at Wolfe's Pond in Staten Island on Sept. 29, 2017. Two of the merlins filmed were banded.
Another Silly Video by Susan Kirby. The merlins (Falco columbarius) featured in this video were filmed in 2015 and 2017 at Central Park, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Wolfe's Pond in New York City. Two of the merlins were banded. These small falcons, called "lady hawks" in the Middle Ages, are patient and very, very fast.
Banded merlin, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Aug. 16, 2017
Banded merlin, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Oct. 3, 2017
