Hi all. For those of you who don't know me my name is Will Cobb and I am the Access Fund Regional Coordinator for Northern Arizona. Chris Tatum from Vertical Relief Climbing Gym let me know about an active Turkey Vulture nest situated on the ledge at the top of T.L. Bush earlier this week. With help and feedback from the kind folks of the NACC we felt that a voluntary closure of the Gold Wall was in order. I have since learned that Turkey Vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and that disturbing the nest is a lawful offense.

Local climbers will be checking on the nest frequently from the far side of the canyon in order to minimize disturbance. Once it has been determined that the nest is abandon for the season the closure will be discontinued.

I believe that this is a great opportunity for climbers to show the Forest Service that we are capable of self-policing and are dedicated to environmental friendly action. Please avoid the Gold Wall until it is determined that the birds are finished with the nest.

Wow, breeding at the forks, how cool. Look at the following link, looks to me like this might be 1 in 3 that would breed in that area. http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/TVFacts.html

Any idea if this birds are banded? If so, do you know the numbers? I'm curious where they migrated from.

These birds are absolutely incredible.
http://www.desertusa.com/video_pages/turkey2.html


~Susan

Will:

Thanks for the heads up.

Turkey vultures, huh? I need some more Thorazine.

thanks Will, I will make sure every one I climb with Knows.

old dude I'm with you on this one, but it is voluntary.
S

Well I had a great retort all lined up about needing thorazine but decided that I didn't want to turn into an internet rabble rouser. Anyhow I think its awesome that the local climbers here in Flagstaff are taking a proactive approach to nesting birds. Sure would be cool if those visiting could respect what we're trying to do. The Forks is plenty big enough to find other walls to climb on. Shoot, when was the last time any of y'all climbed on the white wall? Scary down there I know, but give it a shot. Now about that thorazine, if its for schizophrenia please do take some before you head up to Flag, don't want our crags to get too crowded. Watch out for the extrapyramidal side effects they can really dampen your day.

Wow I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that turkey vultures are protected. I see them everywhere.

Just about every bird can be considered protected.

I ate a turkey vulture once back in MO

Recently, a hummingbird hovered near my head while climbing the Prow. It was about two inches tall and had a mass of about 3 grams. It had an adult turkey vulture in its beak (still alive.) A voluntary closure of the Prow is now in effect. Thank you for your cooperation.

But was it nesting?

Morning all. The latest update is in and it looks like the Turkey Vulture's nest was destroyed and the egg is gone.

A big thanks to everyone who participated in the closure.

Will Cobb
Flagstaff, AZ