Merlin in Northern Belarus in 1991-1997. - V.V. Ivanovsky. - Berkut. 8 (1). 1999. P. 46-53.
46 occupied nests of the Merlin were investigated in Vitebsk region. Favourite breeding habitats in Northern Belarus are ridge bogs - 54 % of all nests, peat-hags - 37 % and edges of pine woods in the country-side - 9 %. First egg is laid from April 27 till May 6. Clutch contains on average 4,2 + 0,79 eggs (n = 35). Mostly birds occupy nests of Hooded Crow, also actively occupy artificial nests and regularly breed on the ground. Fledglings leave nest between June 24 and Jule 16, on average 2,7 +1,78 fledglings per active nest (n = 38). Breeding success makes 78 %. The Merlin population in Belarus is stable, it has 300-350 breed-ing pairs. [Russian].
Key words: Merlin, Northern Belarus, ecology, breeding, habitat, breeding success, feeding, artificial nest.
Address: V.V. Ivanovsky, Pobedy str. 15-4-87, 210032 Vitebsk, Belarus. e-mail: vladimir@pkp.belpak.vitebsk.by.