ST. GEORGE — Some colorful cliffs in Zion National Park are now off-limits to climbers in an effort to protect nesting peregrine falcons.
“Peregrine falcons are monogamous and they mate for life. When they are in the park at this time of year, they look for nest sites. They frequently return to the same territory year after year,” Janice Stroud-Settles, lead wildlife biologist at Zion National Park, emailed St. George News. “If they are forced off their nests, they may not return, and that’s why it’s so important that we do not disturb them at this critical time of year.”
The park’s steep crags, like Angels Landing, are nesting sites for peregrines to raise their young. Stroud-Settle said peregrine falcons prefer to nest in the crevices on cliff faces between as high as 1,300 feet.
The bird’s mating season is from early March to early May, she said. The endangered bird’s eggs are susceptible to any disturbance, whether from predators or humans, which they view as predators. The chicks leave the nest from late June through late July.
The park monitors the falcons with the help of local partners throughout the summer and early fall. Stroud-Settles said the park works with groups like the Zion Climbing Coalition to educate others about where to climb to help the wildlife “who call Zion home.”
Ryan Rasmusson, a Cedar City canyon climber, told St. George News that limiting certain park areas from rock climbing may not be convenient for everyone, but it is understandable.
He said it’s more of a problem for visitors from out of the area than locals. Rasmusson advises hikers to apply for a permit ahead of time. He has seen visitation swell in Zion National Park and wilderness permits are required for technical rock climbing trails.
According to the park’s website, online applications must be submitted two months before a planned trip. Also, applications are limited to one request per individual, canyon and month.
Peregrine falcons are known for being one of the fastest birds because of their diving ability. Stroud-Settles said when the bird makes its sharp dive towards prey, it can reach speeds between 100 and 200 miles per hour within eight seconds.
Zion National Park is home to 291 bird species. The Endangered Species Act listed the peregrine falcons as an endangered species in 1970. The birds of prey were removed from the endangered species list in 1999. Currently, the peregrine falcons are still protected under the Migratory Bird Act.
Climbers can check Zion’s Seasonal Climbing Closures webpage for details, and portions of the following cliffs are closed effective March 1:
- Angels Landing – Hiking route remains open
- Cable Mountain
- The Great White Throne
- Isaac (in Court of the Patriarchs)
- The Sentinel
- Mountain of the Sun
- North Twin Brother
- Tunnel Wall
- The East Temple
- Mount Spry
- The Streaked Wall
- Mount Kinesava
According to a news release, all other cliffs will remain open to climbing. Download the 2023 Guide to Zion National Park’s Seasonal Raptor Closures to see maps of cliff-specific closure boundaries. Climbers are responsible for checking maps of closed areas. The National Park Service will update its Seasonal Climbing Closures webpage as areas reopen for access.
Park wildlife biologists and volunteers from the Zion Climbing Coalition will monitor the nesting activity of raptors, including peregrine falcons and California condors, throughout the 2023 breeding season. The date for admittance to closed areas varies yearly, but typically ranges from late spring to early fall.
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