GRCF2021 Merlin Magic: Recovery at a landscape scale (360G-cabinetoffice-G2-GA-202211828508-21-22)

Merlin are iconic falcons of England's moorlands and red-listed of conservation concern. Gamekeepers managing moors proudly host them and raptor workers enthusiastically search for them, but parties often disagree over their status and causes of decline. Gamekeepers consider their management for grouse helps support merlin and other ground-nesting birds, whilst raptor workers consider over-zealous burning for grouse reduces merlin nesting habitat and their avian prey abundance. We will help reconcile opinions through promoting co-operative working, whereby gamekeepers find nests for raptor workers, who then validate nests and, under licence, ring and tag chicks. By additionally measuring nesting vegetation, habitat quality and avian prey, we will guide dialogue amongst grouse practitioners and upland ecologists regarding needs for landscape-scale improvements in priority bog and heath moorland management to benefit merlin, other ground-nesting birds, habitat condition and wildfire control. In doing so, we will promote public awareness of moorland conservation issues, inform conservation strategies and lay foundations for further grouse-raptor reconciliation projects. We will contribute to all three key GRCF themes, protect two existing jobs and create two new jobs and two trainee positions. We are ready for an immediate start (see attached consents table).