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2024 Falcon Closure Questions
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I haven't seen a thread started this year for route closures on routes like The Eaglet for the 2024 season. The only official information that I have reliably found talks about closures typically being in spring-August 1st. Does anyone have info on this? If someone knows where I can get the source for reliable information on these route closures, I will try to keep this thread up to date for the 2024 season. Edit: As of the time of this edit, all seasonal closures for MA and NH have officially been lifted. Happy climbing everyone! |
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I've asked NH Audubon a few times and the only 2024 closures they shared are Rumney Summit Cliff and Russell Crag Main Cliff. They said they'd let me know of other closures, but haven't shared anything. All the NH peregrines must be vacationing in the ADKs and Gunks... |
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is it just main cliff at russell thats shut? |
Owen Wilkinswrote: Yep |
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I got notice from the Wester Mass Climbers Coalition that the falcon closures at Farley are extended until June 30, but that the falcon closures for hanging mountain just lifted 5 days ago. |
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Just saw the Anyone know if they’ve hatched at the main cliff at Russell yet? Thanks! |
Russell Lasdonwrote: Rumney Main Cliff never had a closure this year. So, not sure if it being open says anything about Russell. |
Alec Owrote: Oops. Meant Summit Cliff at Rumney. |
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I spoke to Chris Martin (cmartin@nhaudubon.org) who confirmed no closures for the Eaglet area so I climbed it on the 4th. He also mentioned usually there is a post about closures on mountain project but that wasn't done this year. I'm not sure who does the actual posting each year but I asked him and am waiting for a reply. |
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I saw a posting this morning from Central NH climbers saying that Russell Crags/ Merriam woods main cliff is now open. |
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Just in from Chris Martin: Hello climbers and resource managers – I just wanted to update everyone … in NH, ALL seasonal climbing closures at Peregrine Falcon nest sites for the 2024 season have been lifted. This includes partial closures that were in place during the 2024 season at Band M Ledge, Rumney Rocks, Russell Crag, and Woodchuck Ledge (see photos). Breeding season totals for NH Peregrine Falcon sites in 2024 will be available in several weeks. |
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Update on the NH Falcons from Chris Martin. Good to hear that they did well on man-made structures and that there are plenty of successful nests that aren't located on popular climbing cliffs. I think it's time to rethink the necessity of closing cliffs for peregrine nesting. --- Aug 5, 2024, 4:12 PM Hello NH Peregrine Falcon Watchers – In 2024, NH Audubon staff and a dedicated team of volunteer Peregrine Falcon observers confirmed 28 territorial pairs, a new record high in New Hampshire (see graph). We documented 23 incubating pairs, down one from 2022’s record high. We tallied 21 successful pairs that fledged at least one young each, up 16% from 2023’s record high. And 50 young fledged was also the most ever recorded in the Granite State in any single breeding season. This conservation milestone – 50 wild-hatched fledglings – comes nearly 50 years after wildlife managers first started releasing (hacking) captive-hatched Peregrine chicks at Owls Head and several other New England cliffs back in the mid-1970s.  We reached 50 fledglings this year despite only one New Hampshire nest (Polar Caves) producing 4 young. Manchester’s Brady Sullivan Tower pair was successful for the 24th consecutive year without fail, this year producing 2 young (see photo). This urban territory with a secure nest box (see photo) has produced a total of 76 fledglings since 2001. A neighboring territory located just south along the Merrimack River at the 293/101 Bridge also fledged 2 young in 2024 (see photo). Several breeding pairs fledged their young late in the season, increasing our productivity totals when things were looking bleak. For example, a quarry-nesting pair in Westmoreland (see photo) fledged 3 young, and so did a pair at Dixville (see photo). Successful nesting by a pair at Diamond Peaks in the Second College Grant was confirmed by an audio recording posted to eBird ( ebird.org/checklist/S184015184). And finally, a late July check of power poles at the Bellows Falls Dam confirmed 2 fledglings from the Fall Mountain cliffs. Among other sites, we are still searching for possible nests in Nashua (see photo) and in Dover, where adult pairs continue to be seen during the breeding season. This was the 44th breeding season in the post-DDT recovery era for NH’s Peregrines. Once listed as federally endangered after disappearing from the entire region, Peregrines today still remain on NH’s state-threatened list, and their population recovery continues to be very gradual. Yet NH’s falcons are a key piece of a widely distributed regional breeding population that includes both cliff-nesting and urban-nesting pairs. NH Audubon continues to lead management activities designed to promote successful nesting outcomes. In 2024, this work included posting seasonal climbing route closures at 4 heavily-used cliffs, maintaining nest boxes and trays, investigating nest failures, reviewing proposals with potential to disrupt falcon breeding, and offering advice to landowners who host peregrines on their land. NH Peregrine Falcon management is supported in part by a federal State Wildlife Grant to NH Fish and Game’s Nongame Wildlife Program. Monitoring and management is also supported by a grant from the Knopf Family Foundation, and by generous donations from NH Audubon members and others. A big “Thank You!” to all who assist in our efforts, including our federal and state partners, our corporate and foundation partners, private landowners, volunteer falcon observers, and many rock climbers who help us out. This report is dedicated to the memory of Lee Hansche, a 46-yr old climber and Peregrine project volunteer who helped us reach falcon nests and band chicks in Lyme, Rumney, and Woodstock (see 2009 photo from Holts Ledge). Lee was adept at spanning the gap that sometimes exists between full-on outdoor recreation and careful wildlife management. He brought climbers and wildlife managers together to protect the cliffs that we all love. Lee passed away this Spring in an accident at the Manchester climbing gym he managed. We miss you, Lee! Chris Martin Conservation Biologist New Hampshire Audubon 84 Silk Farm Road Concord, NH 03301 |
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Love the dedication to Lee Hansche. I didn't realize he was so involved with the Peregrine project. |
