2025 Falcon Closures ME

I am repeating information provided by Chris Duca regarding seasonal Peregrine closures on Western Main cliffs. His notes shown below are listed on the Route Guide pages for each cliff.

Current (2025) raptor closure information can be attained by reaching out to Chris Duca (christopherduca@gmail.com), or by following The Stewards of Western Maine Climbing Instagram site (@_swmc_).

There are active nests on the following cliffs in Western Maine:
- Shagg Crag: All routes to the right of "The Elephant Knows"/"The Ritual Buttress" are currently closed for nesting peregrines.
- Bear Mountain
- Tumbledown Mtn. (Weld)

Just to add on: traditionally the Laughing Lion has been closed from the routes Lions,Tigers and Bears to Bob's Corner. Last season, however, the falcons moved their nest to the top of the 3rd pitch of mainline effectively shutting all of Main Cliff down and even harrying climbers topping out on the gully wall. Road is being repaved anyway, but just putting it out there

Aunt Pattywrote:

Just to add on: traditionally the Laughing Lion has been closed from the routes Lions,Tigers and Bears to Bob's Corner. Last season, however, the falcons moved their nest to the top of the 3rd pitch of mainline effectively shutting all of Main Cliff down and even harrying climbers topping out on the gully wall. Road is being repaved anyway, but just putting it out there

Thanks, Dhane!  Is there signage up at the trailhead of the Lion yet?  

Chris Ducawrote:

Thanks, Dhane!  Is there signage up at the trailhead of the Lion yet?  

No worries! They sure are feisty up there. And unsure about signage. Its been the same placard in place for as long as I've been going that lists the above mentioned closures, which are obsolete with the new nest location. I reached out to the Maine bird people last year so maybe it's been updated. But, roads still closed and I'm not gonna take that walk to find out!

Awesome thanks so much and appreciate the intel from everyone! Hope this becomes regular each year with the NH postings.

Any way to access the SWMC information for us non-Instagram users? Would love to check out all current info but don’t have an account!

JChepeswrote:

Awesome thanks so much and appreciate the intel from everyone! Hope this becomes regular each year with the NH postings.

Any way to access the SWMC information for us non-Instagram users? Would love to check out all current info but don’t have an account!

We (The Stewards of Western Maine Climbing) are currently working on a webpage, as well as a monthly newsletter.  

Aunt Pattywrote:

No worries! They sure are feisty up there. And unsure about signage. Its been the same placard in place for as long as I've been going that lists the above mentioned closures, which are obsolete with the new nest location. I reached out to the Maine bird people last year so maybe it's been updated. But, roads still closed and I'm not gonna take that walk to find out!

It sounds like the signage is antiquated, much like the sign that had been posted for years up at Shagg, which has since been updated.  Maybe I can have them create a new sign that accurately reflects the impacted zone on The Lion. 

Chris Ducawrote:

We (The Stewards of Western Maine Climbing) are currently working on a webpage, as well as a monthly newsletter.  

Cool sounds good and keep us posted! Wife and I would love to join/help/whatever as we spend a good chunk of time in  Western ME!  Trying to make the Friends of the Ledges clean-up day at Jockey Cap on Saturday at 3pm. Lots of good memories there and the store near the entrance has fantastic breakfast and lunch sammies!

Z Ewrote:

I am repeating information provided by Chris Duca regarding seasonal Peregrine closures on Western Main cliffs. His notes shown below are listed on the Route Guide pages for each cliff.

Current (2025) raptor closure information can be attained by reaching out to Chris Duca (christopherduca@gmail.com), or by following The Stewards of Western Maine Climbing Instagram site (@_swmc_).

There are active nests on the following cliffs in Western Maine:
- Shagg Crag: All routes to the right of "The Elephant Knows"/"The Ritual Buttress" are currently closed for nesting peregrines.
- Bear Mountain
- Tumbledown Mtn. (Weld)

Thank you, Zoë! 

It is also worth noting there is presently no peregrine activity at Tumbledown Dick in Peru.  

I got an update from WMNF wildlife biologist regarding Laughing Lion. A closure is in place now through July 15th. "The sign simply states that the trail is closed for climbing due to nesting peregrines. The whole climbing face is closed during this time. The closure lifts on July 15th to allow the chicks to fully fledge."

Z Ewrote:

I got an update from WMNF wildlife biologist regarding Laughing Lion. A closure is in place now through July 15th. "The sign simply states that the trail is closed for climbing due to nesting peregrines. The whole climbing face is closed during this time. The closure lifts on July 15th to allow the chicks to fully fledge."

Thank you, Zoë!!

Shagg Update—

I ran into a field biologist from the state this morning out at the cliff, and she confirmed three healthy peregrine fledglings are currently in the nest.  A biologist will return in a couple of weeks to check in on their progress—thanks for standing by, folks! 

The Sheriff wrote:

Bird closure and literal red tape gone.  

The members of the western Maine presbyterian church might think otherwise…

Thanks for the update, Jason. Not sure what you mean by the Western Maine Presbyterian Church, though.  Care to explain? 

The Sheriff wrote:

You know, those church types that make appearances of being ethical under some new nomenclature but are in fact, which full of sin.

Thanks for clarifying, Jason. 

Falcon closures in Ac have been lifted

2026, bear mountain appears to have some nesting falcons

Falcons were sited nesting on Bucks Ledge in the last few days.