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Tallulah Gorge Peregrines

Original Post
Jon Cabrera · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 0

Hey all,

Just a heads up, there are nesting raptors at the start of the second pitch of the chimney route. When I got to the top of Into the country, I got yelled at by a mother protecting her chickadees and made a hasty exit.

The rest of the day we tried to give them a wide berth, but we were dive bombed a whole bunch on mescaline and punk wave.

Be careful out there!
jon

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623

Making this announcement is certainly a double edged sword. Thanks for the heads up, but I also hope you realize how difficult it is already to get access into the gorge for climbing purposes. If the park gets wind of the nest, they are likely to shut the place down every winter through summer, or maybe altogether. There are many management areas that are still doing blanket closures despite the birds not being present in decades. Considering the GA SP lack of concern for climbers, this could put the park into the same blanket closures every year without them actually investigating. I am not trying to deter you from making others aware, but laying out the gravity of it all. I am in support of protecting habitats, but the treatment of these birds is almost unparalleled, especially considering they are no longer endangered. As far as a danger to a climber goes, I think these small birds would be more of a nuisance than a danger. Did you inform the park staff as well?

Jon Cabrera · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 0

Yea, this definitely crossed my mind. I didn't inform the park staff, but I did feel the need to put the information where climbers might see it. Regardless of what the endangered species act has to say or the treatment of other animals or my desire to rock climb, I think it's important to respect wildlife and the first filter of my actions when I'm in the backcountry is LNT.

But I'm not here to argue whether peregrine closures instated by various park systems are effective or necessary, but to disseminate the info to those who might be affected by it. I definitely do appreciate your point, it's necessary to think about considering the state of affairs of climbing access.

Plus, as unlikely as it may be, I wouldn't want to be gouged by those talons (scary shit!).

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623

These are publicly viewable forums that even GA SP can view. Besides, Bird encounters are just part of the adventure. There is plenty of wall to be away from that area. It is also getting pretty warm to be climbing down there. By the time fall rolls around the birds will have fledged and the nest will be empty.

Ezra Ellis · · Hotlanta · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 0

I'm with Tom on this one, please delete this thred now!!!
Thank you!

beensandbagged · · smallest state · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 0

Partial closures of a cliff due to nesting raptors is not unusual and as a community we should do our best to enable the birds to accommodate us. Let us remember we are pursuing a somewhat self centered meaningless craft while they are doing their best to maintain their species.

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620

Unbelievable.

Paul Barnes · · Gainesville, Georgia · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 30

As if access wasn't sketchy enough.

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623

The last time someone felt the need to alert local climbers about a "dangerous" animal, the animal was tortured and then eventually killed. Maybe not all of us need a reminder that we climb in wild places with often dangerous animals.

Why are all the blind conservationists from the New England area? If you don't live in the area or know the current access environment, you are just needlessly peddling your agenda. There are many other cliffs where these birds nest that don't have closures, because climbers and the birds coexist without issue. Introducing the land manager into this topic removes all climber input.

Jon, you should delete your post and let us police ourselves before this place gets closed for good unnecessarily.

Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

Climbers have zero impact on the falcons outside of purposefully destroying their nest or poaching them. I can't imagine any climber would do that. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure one of the female staff of the gorge was already informed. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they use this as an excuse to keep climbers out.

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790
Frailer wrote: Climbers have zero impact on the falcons outside of purposefully destroying their nest or poaching them. I can't imagine any climber would do that. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure one of the female staff of the gorge was already informed. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they use this as an excuse to keep climbers out.
^^^Cuz we're such a desirable user group with all the boomboxin crag poopin trash droppin pssssatt yellin shenanigans the falcons won't mind at all...
JohnWesely Wesely · · Lander · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 585

Do you guys really think the park wouldn't notice the peregrines without the help of this thread? They are not really the most subtle of birds.

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623
Tom-onator wrote: ^^^Cuz we're such a desirable user group with all the boomboxin crag poopin trash droppin pssssatt yellin shenanigans the falcons won't mind at all...
It is obvious you have never been to Tallulah. The user group is much smaller and typically more technically proficient due to the nature of the climbing. Not your usual sport climber crag.

John W, I just don't understand the nanny society BS. While they are noisy, one can hope that the GA SP staff is ignorant in regards to species identification. Maybe I just don't want them to have a reason to shut us out permenantly.
BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620
TomCaldwell wrote:I just don't understand the nanny society BS.
Wilderness Socialism.
Ninnery.
Whatever you call it....it's bad and getting worse.
Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

Even if they did ID the falcons, there is so much cliffline in the gorge for them to nest on that the staff probably would have no idea the falcons are nesting on the main wall. For those that don't know, this is the only section they even allow climbing.

DavisMeschke Guillotine · · Pinedale, WY · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 225

Here we go again. Something's that's becoming lost with people in general is the inability to think big picture. Sad to see cool places like Tallulah going to the wayside because of "animal rights", especially with a species of falcon that is no longer endangered (I'm pretty sure someone already mentioned this). But hey, I'm a fuckin' idiot so whadda I know?

Chris Hara · · Atlanta, GA · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 0
TomCaldwell wrote:Making this announcement is certainly a double edged sword. Thanks for the heads up, but I also hope you realize how difficult it is already to get access into the gorge for climbing purposes. If the park gets wind of the nest, they are likely to shut the place down every winter through summer, or maybe altogether. There are many management areas that are still doing blanket closures despite the birds not being present in decades. Considering the GA SP lack of concern for climbers, this could put the park into the same blanket closures every year without them actually investigating. I am not trying to deter you from making others aware, but laying out the gravity of it all. I am in support of protecting habitats, but the treatment of these birds is almost unparalleled, especially considering they are no longer endangered. As far as a danger to a climber goes, I think these small birds would be more of a nuisance than a danger. Did you inform the park staff as well?
I'm confused. You claim that GA SP could possibly read this forum, so therefore a climber mentioning that we should GIVE SPACE to the peregrine nest is going to damage climbing access.

I would contend that GA SP reading about you stating, in a public forum, to hide the nest and climb anyways, without the desire for responsible stewardship of wildlife, is far more damaging than what the OP said.

So despite the fact that the park allows climbing by their own choice, we should try to police ourselves and work apart from the system rather than with the system? I understand the park dislikes climbers as a user group, but perhaps this is a reason why. The Access Fund, SCC, and CCC use a model of cooperation with existing owners, right? They seem to be doing pretty well on the access front.
Paul Barnes · · Gainesville, Georgia · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 30

They're not big enough for me to knock a lung loose with a sharp broadhead and eat em...so they can nest wherever they want to as far as I'm concerned. BUT...the PETA people need to stay out of it. It's between me and the birds.

Paul Barnes · · Gainesville, Georgia · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 30
Chris Hara wrote: The Access Fund, SCC, and CCC use a model of cooperation with existing owners, right? They seem to be doing pretty well on the access front.
Oh boy....you've stepped in it now.
BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620
Chris Hara wrote:So despite the fact that the park allows climbing by their own choice, we should try to police ourselves and work apart from the system rather than with the system? I understand the park dislikes climbers as a user group, but perhaps this is a reason why. The Access Fund, SCC, and CCC use a model of cooperation with existing owners, right? They seem to be doing pretty well on the access front.
Whoa, buddy....
Cooperation?

It has come to light recently that the SCC has had little to no contact with Tallulah of late.
There are also other egregious examples of lack of oversight, in GA and AL especially, but we won't go there.

The best policy concerning Tallulah, given the current lack of climber traction/respect within the park system, is to abide by the rules and lay low.

I.E....don't bring up "scary birds".
Wow.
Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

Yes, we should police ourselves and work apart from the system. Climbing was going on in the gorge before they made that section of it a state park.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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