Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!sid
From: sid@jato.jpl.nasa.gov (Sid Johnson WB6VWH)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Merlins in cities?
Message-ID: <1991Mar12.154700.5397@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>
Date: 12 Mar 91 15:47:00 GMT
References: <41300@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Reply-To: sid@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Sid Johnson WB6VWH)
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Lines: 23

In article <41300@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> dagnall@sandstorm.Berkeley.EDU (Robert Dagnall) writes:
>
>	Are merlins and/or sharp-shinned hawks likely to be in
>urban areas, esp. the SF Bay Area?
>Robert Dagnall             dagnall@ocf.berkeley.edu
>"Take the land, Christian soldiers, take the old ways too, but
>please, goddamnit, leave me my soul."--William Least Heat Moon
>               Also: dagnall@qal.berkeley.edu


I can't speak that well for the SF Bay area but Shap-shinned hawks are 
quite comman here in the Los Angeles basin and in San Diego urban areas.
I would be fairly sure that the SF area would have them too.

Merlin is a bit different.  I have never seen on here in the LA urban
areas, although, you do see them occassionally in rural areas.  I have
never heard of one being reported on the LA hotline either, but that
may be because they are not considered to be that unusual.  The San
Diego tape sometimes reports a Merlin in rural areas so I'm sure they
are around. Oops I meant urban, not rural.

Sid Johnson
Jet Propulsion Laboratory