Review 2 - Merlin Mist Nets September 2021 update
Introduction
With the relaxation of Covid 19 travel restrictions, I returned to Portland Bird Observatory for a week’s ringing in September 2021. After conversations with other ringers
there and subsequent use in the field, it was immediately apparent that Merlin,
in collaboration with their suppliers, have made considerable efforts to improve
both the quality and consistency of their mist nets. The criticisms in my
original 2017 review no longer apply and this brief update is an attempt to acknowledge and document the enhancements, which the Merlin website modestly fails to mention,
perhaps relying on word of mouth to keep potential
purchasers informed. Once again, I should just make it clear that that this review
was unsolicited and that I have no personal or
financial interest in anyone who manufactures or retails mist nets!
First Impressions
The most significant improvements relate to the quality
and consistency of the tethering. Whereas the nets I
purchased in 2017 were variable with each tethered on
different shelves with rather crude, widely spaced and obvious knots, all of the current batch were uniformly secured on three
alternating shelf strings at roughly 0.5m intervals and the knots were
discrete with no loose ends. There were no noticeable manufacturing errors in any of the
nets examined and the shelf strings
were of equal length. All the net loops are black but this
is easily rectified with
coloured tape or twine on the top loop. The
netting is still
marginally less pliable
than the
Ecotone
equivalent but the finishing on the top and bottom shelf strings is much improved with no
surplus net hanging from
either.
The price of mist nets has risen sharply in the four
years since my original review and the full impact of import duties arising from Brexit has yet to be realised. The
total purchase plus delivery costs of a variety of 18m, 16mm mesh, 70-75
denier, nylon and polyester mist nets in September 2021 are tabulated below.
With price rises from other suppliers ranging between 20-50% since November 2017, Merlin’s increase of just 7% over
the same period makes their nets an even more attractive proposition.
|
Manufacturer |
Ecotone |
Ecotone |
Ecotone |
North Ron. |
Merlin |
|
Denier |
75 |
70 |
75 |
75 |
70 |
|
Mesh size |
16mm |
16mm |
16mm |
16mm |
16mm |
|
Material |
Polyester |
Nylon |
Polyester |
Polyester |
Nylon |
|
Retailer |
NHBS |
NHBS |
BTO |
BTO |
Merlin |
|
Cost |
£141.00 |
£142.99 |
£115.00* |
£123.25* |
£37.50 |
Table 1. The purchase
and delivery cost of an 18m mist net from various UK retailers as of September
2021.
* BTO prices include
the ringer’s discount.
Conclusion
It was immediately clear that the quality and
consistency of Merlin mist nets has improved significantly and that the current
product has successfully eliminated the negative observations contained in my original
review. In terms of
visibility, catching ability, ease
of extraction and durability I have been unable to detect any significant
differences between the Merlin mist nets and their increasingly expensive nylon
or polyester competitors.
At a third of the price of a net from their cheapest
competitor Merlin mist nets represent a serious, value for money alternative
for those on a budget.
Alan Pomroy,
September 2021