Nine rock faces in North Carolina national forests will be closed to recreational activities through Aug. 15 in order to protect rare peregrine falcons’ nests, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Peregrine falcons typically nest on tall cliff ledges, and the Forest Service warns that disturbing prohibited areas may cause peregrine falcons to abandon their usual nest sites and potentially fail to nest until the following year. Additionally, newly hatched falcon chicks who cannot yet fly may run off cliff edges to escape danger.
North Carolina wildlife biologists have been working to restore peregrine falcon populations since the 1980s, and nesting success may be one of their greatest challenges to population recovery, according to the agency’s January announcement.
The new restrictions, updated after falcon monitoring in 2017, will be in effect from Jan. 15 through Aug. 15 every year through 2020, when the closings will be reevaluated.
Closed rock faces include: Whiterock Cliff and Buzzard’s Roost in the Appalachian ranger district, N.C. Wall and Shortoff Mountain and Big Lost Cove Cliffs in the Grandfather district, Pickens Nose (east face) and Whiteside Mountain in the Nantahala district, and the north faces of Looking Glass Rock and Cedar Rock in the Pisgah district. — Ashley Goodman
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
Neighbors Help Neighbors
A photo essay that celebrates the volunteer spirit of the grassroots group Hurricane Helene WNC and speaks to the resourcefulness, collaboration and hard work embodied by thousands and thousands of volunteers, first responders and aid workers across the region after Hurricane Helene.
Halloween Approaches, and Night School Is in Session
The House of Art in Bluefield, West Virginia, looks like a haunted tower, making it the perfect location for its sixth annual haunt event: Night School. The Night School will be open every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 31.
‘The Most Perfect Act of Love’
Hundreds of people attended the second annual Affirming Sumner Pride celebration on a 24-acre farm dubbed “Fruity Farm” in Bethpage, Sumner County, Tennessee.
Signs of Life: Endangered Bats Found in Nantahala for First Time in More Than a Decade
In the Nantahala National Forest, a team of biologists spotted Indiana bats, an endangered species that hasn’t been seen in North Carolina for the last 11 years.
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment