Zion Park is closing climbing routes to allow falcons to nest

Several popular climbing routes in Zion National Park will be closed for several months, beginning Thursday, for the yearly arrival of peregrine falcons that favor the sheer cliff walls as prime nesting spots.

This is the fifth year that park officials have closed the routes to climbers.

"Their nests typically are high up on the cliffs and sometimes along a ledge, so they're difficult to see," said Clare Crow, wildlife program manager for the park. "This year, we're closing the same cliffs that we closed last year to climbing. We'll also monitor other nesting territories to see if there is any activity."

Once considered an endangered species, the predatory birds mate for life and typically take up residence along 10 cliffs in the park's boundaries to breed and raise their offspring. Peregrine falcons are aggressive, especially during breeding and nesting season, and are known to be fiercely protective of their young.

Inside the park, there are 18 historical nesting territories monitored by biologists, who keep a close eye on the birds' behavior and results of the breeding season.

"Last year, we had 14 nests occupied with 13 pairs of birds breeding," said Crow. "Only one of those nests failed."

From those 13 peregrine falcon couples, 23 young birds were successfully fledged or left the nest. That seems to be the average outcome for the peregrine falcon population that returns each year to the park, she added.

"Hopefully, they can maintain that level of reproduction," Crow said. "It's difficult sometimes to give an exact number when it comes to animal biology."

The climbing routes that will be closed are: Mount Kinesava; Streaked Wall; Sentinel; Mountain of the Sun; Great White Throne (beyond single and double-pitched climbs); Cable Mountain; Isaac (in Court of the Patriarchs); North Twin Brother; Middle Fork of Taylor Creek; the northeast buttress of Angel's Landing; and Tunnel West.

The climbing closures will continue until the peregrine falcon chicks fledge, which is usually in late July. For more information on the status of the climbing cliffs and routes, visit the Zion National Park Web site at: nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/climbing.htm.

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