Hi Climbers.
I'm really late with the Raptor Reminder this year. Soz.
Keep an eye out for peregrine falcons when ever you're out on the cragz . It's the breeeding season right now . If you find yourself with falcons flying back and forth vocalising  near your climbing then you're close enough to a nest site to be stressing them out and or keeping them off their eggs. Best to find a spot somewhere else. Thankfully they don't nest at every crag. Classic crags to have your bird antenna dialled up include Sisters Beach area, Duckreach area, Hillwood, Sand river,  Bare Rock and Lowdina.  Falcons have also been know to nest around Main wall at Freycinet.
We saw peregrines at Lowdina in early July which was sweet. As I don't remember seeing them the year before. I'd love to hear any observations from any crag in Tasmania.
A classic long read here : http://www.thesarvo.com/confluence/display/cctpublic/Raptor+Nesting
Or a light read here: https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/peregrine-falcon/

ALSO, it's no coincidence but it's also Wedgetail eagle nesting season, they also freak out when people are around their nest sites. As far as I know the only crag this affects is the  North Ridge at Sand River. Please don't plan to go there until end of January next year. The Eagles will appreciate it even if they don't communicate it effectively.
Thaaanks :)

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  1. Hamish Jackson

    Hey Dave thanks a lot for posting, and I would say we have seen the climbing community being generally very respectful of these issaues in recent years - this is lovely to see and will also allow climbing not to be banned!

    Am I correct in saying our approach here is definitely to avoid all sub-areas with peregrines, and the most accurate info on specifc sub-area closures is found in each crag Access section on thesarvo?

    Some detailed examples:

    • Rocky cape/pinmatik, nesting around North cave has been consistent for a few years now, and the peregrine pair here were noted to be on high alert to all visitors on foot. This whole area definitely should be considered off limits until Jan; signs have been placed here by Parks/CCT. 
    • Bare rock: such a big cliff that some areas of cliffs are sufficinetly far away from the nest they are deemed ok; and some sections are definitely not ok. You must check in with Andrew. 
    • last year Peregrines were seen hunting around Lowdina but not nesting (they appeared to be nesting around the hill to north).  They have nested around Wolftone in the past. As Dave said - we need updates from this cliff to define this year's approach. Let us know at the CCT or email the relevant crag steward.