Abstract
Over the period 1967–97, eggs from 630 Merlin clutches, obtained in various parts of Britain, were analysed for residues of DDE (from DDT), HEOD (from aldrin and dieldrin), PCBs (industrial polychlorinated biphenyls) and Hg (mercury). The organochlorine pesticides (DDE and HEOD) had previously been held responsible for an earlier decline in the numbers of Merlins in Britain, along with some other birds of prey. During the study period, these residues declined markedly. PCB levels showed declines in some regions but not in others, while mercury levels (measured only from 1978) declined to the mid- 1980s and then increased again. The decline in pesticide residues, and associated improvement in shell indices, coincided with a marked increase between 1983–84 and 1993–94 in the numbers of Merlins found breeding in Britain.
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