The good news is that the hikers were rescued from Dear Leap in Killington, at Killington Pass, not the Dear Leap in Bristol! I do not think there are any falcons there. 

Awesome to see the success of the peregrines, I worked one of the first re-introduction projects in the very early 1980's, and who would have thought that it would result in so many successful breeding sites. Dragging up a remote mountain trail stones and lumber, crates of peregrine chicks and finally frozen chickens and jugs of water, etc. has paid off tremendously!

Let's hope people pay heed to the closed trails. Thanks for the info.



Jane Schlossberg



Saint George



-----Original Message-----

From: Maeve Kim <[log in to unmask]>

To: [log in to unmask]

Sent: Mon, 26 May 2008 8:12 am

Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Peregrine pair in Bolton Notch















Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials have closed nine trails to protect nesting peregrine falcons, including Bolton Notch. Other closed trails are the roadside access to the cliff southeast of Elephant Head in Smuggler’s Notch, Deer Leap in Bristol, and the cliff south of the pond on Snake Mountain in Addison. Also closed are Rattlesnake Point in Salisbury, Great Cliff on Mount Horrid, Marshfield Mountain, Fairlee Palisades and Nichols Ledge in Woodbury. There are signs at trailheads and/or along closed trails. The closings will be from May through August, but if falcons fail to nest or leave the area, some trails might be reopened early. The Fish and Wildlife website has updates. 

 



Two hikers were rescued by State Police from a ledge in Deer Leap yesterday. The commotion can't have been good for the nearby falcons! 

 



Maeve Kim 



Jericho Center 

 





On May 26, 2008, at 6:07 AM, John Snell wrote: 

 



> A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS are nesting in BOLTON NOTCH. The area > has numerous signs warning hikers to be careful of disturbing the > nesting site which is nearby. I found the pair very skittish even > as I walked on the nearby road so I kept my distance. Also a RAVEN > nearby but did not see if it too was nesting. 



> 



> John Snell 



> Montpelier