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Elevation: 1,465 ft
GPS: 43.99271, -71.65781
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 10,566 total · 300/month
Shared By: Lee Hansche on May 30, 2021 · Updates
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, Lee Hansche, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall
Warning Access Issue: Merriam Woods is conservation land, managed by the Town of Woodstock. DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: Peregrine Falcon Closure 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.

22 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
 10
Birds on Parade
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 19
MegArete
Sport 2 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 9
Flight of the Escobird
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 10
Kissing and Killing
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 10
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
 23
Natural Born Killers
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 21
Shrike
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 13
Deep Belly Bark
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 5
Kestral
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 13
Voodoo Economics
Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 15
Russelled Feathers
Sport
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 9
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
 10
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
MegArete MegArete Area
 19
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport 2 pitches
Flight of the Escobird Nest
 9
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Kissing and Killing Nest
 10
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
The Other Stripe Waterfall Area
 10
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
 23
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Shrike Nest
 21
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Deep Belly Bark Waterfall Area
 13
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Kestral Nest
 5
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
 15
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
Shriek Nest
 9
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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