Releasing a Passage Merlin

We trapped Sunny, the columbarius (tiaga) merlin in Florida on October 7, and released her today after four months of active hawking for small birds in Louisiana and Texas. She was flown at 175g, three grams under her trapped weight, and released at 215g, 40 grams above flight weight. She was a very good bird. I wish I had more slips for her. Godspeed, Sunny!

[@matsfreedom]

I flew a passage Prairie Falcon years ago. The bird was a masterful hunter, but she took all of my skills to handle without incident. After one season, I released her. It was the best thing to do, for the both of us. It was truly a wild experience.

[@alanarmer8069]

Beautiful bird 🦅🦅🦅🦅

[@RandyGiven]

Aw! Sad to see her go. Excellent video. Thank you!

[@matthewmullenix3120]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@matthewmullenix3120]

Thanks!

[@calebfalconer8671]

🥲🥲🥲 I know that's a hard thing to do bro. She was a very beautiful bird. 🤜🤛💯🙏

[@matthewmullenix3120]

Thanks Caleb!

[@davemyers7507]

That Merlin is in great shape nice job should be happy to go back to Michigan thanks for the video great presentation at the California hockey club me

[@matthewmullenix3120]

Thanks Dave!

[@davidirving2006]

Very personal moment, Thank you for sharing.

[@Nobodyspecial5150]

Such a cool video!!! Cant wait to pass my test.

[@gulfair-cavalry-tango1011]

Back out to the big and dangerous world.

[@Conan_Obrien]

Always loved the way Merlin's fly. Slightly unrelated, but would terrain/habitat shown in this video be suitable for falconry with a red-tail? Our area is mostly flat, open farm land. We also have vineyards and the occasional orchard. I've read that RT are very adaptable but wouldn't want to stack the deck too much. Thanks!

[@matthewmullenix3120]

Redtails can do well in open country. Just depends on what there is to hunt and how much of it.

[@Conan_Obrien]

@@matthewmullenix3120Good to know. Most of the videos I see show them hunting squirrel in forests or rabbit in deserts. With all the agriculture in our area, I'm guessing our redtails get by on gophers, moles, voles, rats, mice, and maybe even roadkill?

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

What are you going to fly next?

[@matthewmullenix3120]

Still have my kestrel so she’ll help me finish out the season.

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

@@matthewmullenix3120 Is she a passage or eyas kestrel?

[@matthewmullenix3120]

@@oldschoolhawking8191 a passage bird. She’s the one in housing video

[@patrickleary2389]

Before the days of captive birds and all the govt. regs, this practice was common to falconry. Capture a passage bird in early fall, fly it in falconry through the winter and release it back to the wild in spring. I didn't see the federal band in the gear removal. Had you already removed it?

[@matthewmullenix3120]

No bands required on merlins in Louisiana, thankfully!

[@patrickleary2389]

@@matthewmullenix3120 I was required to apply one in Florida and it led to an open lesion that ultimately forced the release of the bird.

[@matthewmullenix3120]

@@patrickleary2389 Yes! That's why we've been adamant about not having to do that in Louisiana. I fear they will eventually force this, however, because it eases things for law enforcement. There is nothing on the biology side to recommend it...

[@barnabyandanthonysofficial1497]

newbie question. what keeps the burd from coming back to you or hanging around looking for you?

[@matthewmullenix3120]

Part of the answer is how much the bird is fed and for how long prior to release. Generally, once the birds are significantly above their best response weight for 10 days or so, they are quite wild. Merlins are a little different in this regard because generally flown heavier anyway, and usually they become familiar with the hunting field and so do often stick around. In fact, this merlin came back overhead the next morning and while she kept her distance from me, allowed me to toss her some food, which she took and ate. She was gone the next morning and I expect migrated back to the area where she was born, as it was spring and time for that move.