On Sunday, July 28th, Dubuque Audubon members were able to confirm Merlin nesting in Dubuque for the first time in over a century. Merlin, an American Kestrel-sized falcon, are regular but uncommon residents of Iowa from late fall to March, before they make their way north to upper Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada to breed.

Prior to the discovery of a nest in Iowa City in 2016, the last documented nest in Iowa was in 1908. A second nest was discovered in 2020 in Waterloo, and the Dubuque nest represents the third this century. Merlin prefer open areas like parks, where they can hunt for small birds and dragonflies.

The city of Dubuque is fortunate to now have 3 falcon species nesting within city limits, with Merlin joining American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon!

Photo © Marty Corfman
7/28/24