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Elevation: 1,465 ft 447 m
GPS: 43.9927, -71.6578
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 10,810 total · 237/month
Shared By: Lee Hansche on May 30, 2021 · Updates
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall
Warning Access Issue: Merriam Woods is conservation land, managed by the Town of Woodstock. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

Named not for any murderous desire toward birds by the climbers here but rather the evidence of the victims of the local peregrine falcons who nest just above this section of cliff. That is why this cliff can be closed seasonally for peregrine nesting. Please respect all closures.

The includes all of the climbing at the top of the right hand gully. I guess it could be called the east gully alternatively. Though there are slight sub-areas it makes sense to organize it as one area to make it easy to "shop". On the left just above the upper parts of the Summer Wall is sometimes called the Waterfall area for the very wet giant chimney there. In the center I guess you could call it Bird Murder proper. It sits right below the Alchemy wall which is an excellent crag in it's own right (also seasonally closed for peregrine nesting). The right hand book end to the cliff is called the MegArete. It is easy to find this feature as it is an obvious 2 pitch ridge.

Development is really just getting started here but there is a ton of potential. Just have to make sure the majestic falcons are safe before much else happens here.

Getting There Suggest change

There are two main gullies that house the majority of the developed climbing at Russell. This area caps the top of the right hand gully. The easiest approach is to walk the main base trail from the gate with the hill on your left. Eventually the trail takes you past some large boulders and turns up hill. Continue following the trail steeply up hill until you find yourself at the base. Watch out for poison ivy along the trail as you get toward the top of the gully.

24 Total Climbs

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Location: Bird Murder Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Bird Murder

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 18
Birds on Parade
Sport
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 22
MegArete
Sport 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 17
Flight of the Escobird
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 8
Love, Death and Robots
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 19
Kissing and Killing
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 13
The Other Stripe
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 7
The End of the Beginning
Sport 2 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 33
Natural Born Killers
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 31
Shrike
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 14
Deep Belly Bark
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 6
Kestrel
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 13
Voodoo Economics
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 17
Russelled Feathers
Sport
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 13
Shriek
Sport
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 12
Tremendous Slouch
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Birds on Parade Nest
 18
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
MegArete MegArete Area
 22
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport 2 pitches
Flight of the Escobird Nest
 17
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Love, Death and Robots Nest
 8
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Kissing and Killing Nest
 19
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
The Other Stripe Waterfall Area
 13
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
The End of the Beginning Nest
 7
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport 2 pitches
Natural Born Killers Nest
 33
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Shrike Nest
 31
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Deep Belly Bark Waterfall Area
 14
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Kestrel Nest
 6
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Voodoo Economics Waterfall Area
 13
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Russelled Feathers Waterfall Area
 17
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
Shriek Nest
 13
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport
Tremendous Slouch Waterfall Area
 12
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport
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