This is What Raptor Closures Are Actually Protecting

Up to 100 climbing areas in the U.S. are closed each year for raptor nesting. Here's why climbers should leave the baby birds alone—and what happens if we don't.

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Three Peregrine Falcon nestlings in Pinnacles National Park (Photo: Gavin Emmons)

Whether you are jamming your way up the steep, burly cracks of the Rostrum in Yosemite, pinching and crimping up the welded tuff at Smith Rock, or just enjoying an easy day out on the Third Flatiron in Boulder, bird closures affect when we climb these iconic routes.

Some estimates put between 85 and 100 climbing areas across the USA that have seasonal raptor closures. These areas include the Gunks in New York, the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, the New River Gorge in West Virginia, and most crags in the Western U.S.

Raptors love the crags as much as we do, so it’s only fair that we figure out a way to share this most treasured resource.

What are raptors?

“Traditionally, ‘raptors’ refers to ‘birds of prey’ or birds that catch, kill, and eat meat,’ explains Gavin Emmons, a wildlife biologist who has worked at Pinnacles National Park in central California for more than 20 years. “Raptors are characterized by sharp hooked beaks for tearing at prey, sharp talons and feet with powerful seizing grip for catching prey, parents that both actively incubate eggs and raise young during the breeding season, and a diet primarily made up of other animals.”

Eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls are all considered raptors. Some of the more well-known raptors are bald and golden eagles; Cooper’s, red-shouldered, and red-tailed hawks; prairie and peregrine falcons; and great horned, barn, long-eared, and burrowing owls. While eagles, hawks and falcons hunt during the day, owls hunt at night.

“In more recent years, vultures have been lumped into birds that are considered “raptors.” Vultures tend to have weaker seizing talons and are most often scavengers, eating dead stuff instead of live prey, but are fairly closely related, genetically, to the main groups of hawks and eagles,” adds Emmons.

Raptors are considered “apex predators,” which means they are at the top of the food chain. “They serve as important indicator species for local habitats and ecological processes,” says Emmons. “Raptors eat prey rodents, birds, and reptiles that in turn rely on different plants and animals for their survival. So if raptor populations are stable, it’s usually a good indication that habitats and ecosystems are fairly stable and healthy, too.”

Vultures are also important to the health of ecosystems because as scavengers they serve as the “cleanup crew” that eat dead stuff on the landscape, helping with ecosystem level decomposition and to control and limit disease outbreaks.

Don’t get too close

A year in the life of a raptor varies by species, but in general, they spend at least several months occupying and defending breeding territories, while they nest, incubate eggs, and raise young. In many parts of North America, the breeding season runs for five to six months from January through June.

Some raptors nest on cliff faces and rock ledges; others nest in trees. Hawks and eagles, for example, build their own stick nests, but falcons and owls lay eggs directly on the dirt inside cliffs or tree cavities.

Generally, almost all raptors are active nesters, with males and females in adult pairs both contributing by sharing duties of incubating eggs, feeding young, and defending the nest.

“Most raptors will aggressively defend nesting territories from potential predators and perceived threats,” says Emmons. “These perceived threats usually include humans. Basically, if people get too close to active nest sites, breeding raptors will vocalize with scolding and alarm calls, and will dive at humans that the birds perceive are threatening their nesting efforts. Some particularly aggressive species like peregrine and prairie falcons may even physically strike climbers who get too close to active nest sites.”

Bird closures were first implemented at Pinnacles National Park in the mid-1980’s because of an incident involving a climbing party on the Balconies formation. A pair of nesting eagles alarm-called, circled in the area, and ultimately abandoned the nest due to the climbers near the site. Since that incident more than 40 years ago, golden eagles have not returned to that nesting site.

How climbers can minimize disturbances

Climbers can be good stewards by recognizing that raptors are just trying to raise their young, educating themselves about climbing closures that are in effect, and maintaining a respectful distance from active raptor nests. “If climbers notice that raptors are acting aggressive and upset–with alarm calls, diving displays, and attempting to strike people–the best course of action is to retreat from an area to a safe distance,” says Emmons. “Furthermore, climbers can be good stewards by letting land managers know if they see nesting raptors, and can advise other climbers and visitors to steer clear of nesting areas to protect breeding raptors from disturbance.”

Like people, raptors invest a lot of time and energy into raising their families of nestlings, with both adult males and females contributing and defending their young. People enjoy cliffs and wild lands for climbing and other recreational opportunities, but it’s important to remember that these wilderness areas are the birds’ homes, and we should respect that when we are in their neighborhoods.

“The closures can feel onerous, but overall, land managers are doing their best to preserve as much access to recreational opportunities as possible for visitors, balanced against the need to protect nesting raptors while they are raising their young,” Emmons concludes.