These sightings break down to one simple mathematical equation - cemeteries = Merlins - try it out. But why cemeteries when there are equal habitats throughout the state? I have often thought about this in the 8 or so years that I have been observing the wintering Merlin at Calvary Cemetery and at the cemeteries in Cincinnati. I recently was driving out on Rte. 87 in Geauga and Trumball Counties in the late afternoon and other than being somewhat flat I should have observed at least one Merlin. None where of course. And not for a lack of prey, because I observed much more out there versus the cemeteries. I thought maybe a correlation between breeding and wintering territories? I am not so sure of this after looking through the literature of the breeding territories. So again I ask why the cemeteries? You can reply off the list serve. Lou Gardella Garfield Heights ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]