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Population trends
The population recovery of merlins has been slow, and has been hampered by habitat loss, primarily due to afforestation and overgrazing.
Little is known of the past population changes of this species across Europe. In common with most other raptors, it suffered from the effects of organochlorine pesticides in the 1950s and 1960s, but overall, any decreases and their causes are poorly understood.
In the UK, widespread declines since the late 19th century are thought to be caused by human persecution, habitat loss and increased disturbance. From the 1950s, merlins were badly affected by organochlorine pesticides, resulting in an all-time population low by 1960 of about 550 pairs. It was only in the early 1980s that the population showed any signs of recovery.
Despite a major reduction in the levels of pesticide contamination since the mid-1980s, the merlin is still the most heavily-contaminated species of raptor in the UK. The population recovery has been slow, and has been hampered by habitat loss, primarily due to afforestation and overgrazing.