Black Merlin - Mesa County

[Mike Henwood]

Thought this might be of interest regarding merlins in Mesa County.

On 1-8-15 I observed a Pacific (Black) Merlin at the Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area (OMWA).  I had seen it previously on 12-28, but didn't get a real good look.

Also this fall on 1-24-14, I  saw a Boreal (Taiga) subspecies at the Grand Junction Wildlife Area  (GJWA) as well as the more common Prairie subspecies.

Both the GJWA (Gunnison River) and OMWA (Colorado River) are located in bottomland along a river.  In addition to seeing the Prairie at GJWA area, they also have been observed in other areas such as town, farm land. and desert areas here in Mesa County.

Mike Henwood

Grand Junction

Mesa County