Summit Rock Raptor Closure

Why not M&Ms and the Pole Cat Cliff?

Sanborn County Park Trails Master Plan April 2008

Mitigation Measure BIO-3:

Nesting Migratory Birds:

All vegetation clearing, including trimming of shrubs or trees will take place outside the migratory bird nesting season (March 1 - July 31). If vegetation removal must occur during the nesting season, a survey for nesting migratory birds will occur within five days prior to the start of clearing or construction activities. Every attempt will be made to ensure completion of the vegetation clearing and trimming activities within the five-day period. If more than five days elapse between the initial nest search and the beginning of construction activities, another nest survey will be conducted. If any active nest(s) are detected, all vegetation clearing activities will be suspended and a 50-foot radius buffer established. All vegetation clearing activities within 50-feet of the active nest(s) will take place after the nest(s) are no longer active and chicks have fledged. CDFG generally accepts a 50-foot radius buffer around passerine and non-passerine land bird nests; however the County natural resource staff shall have flexibility to reduce or expand the buffer depending on the specific circumstances.

Nesting Raptors:

All vegetation clearing, including trimming of shrubs or trees, and/or construction activities, will take place outside the raptor-nesting season (February 1- July 31). If such activities must occur during the raptor-nesting season, all suitable raptor-nesting habitat within 500 feet of the impacted area will be surveyed for active raptor nests. If an active raptor nest is located within 500 feet of the construction area, a no-activity buffer of 250 feet will be erected around the nest while it is active to protect the nesting raptors. Every attempt will be made to protect trees and nests that contain active raptor nests. CDFG generally accepts up to a 250-foot buffer radius for raptors, however, the County natural resource staff, in consultation with CDFG, may have flexibility to reduce or expand the buffer depending on the specific circumstances such as for nests not within the line of sight of construction activity.

Implementation: Qualified County Natural Resource Staff or Qualified Consulting Biologist

Timing: During the construction phase of the project

Monitoring: County Parks Staff

Gavin Emmons / Excerpt from the 2008 Pinnacles Raptor Breeding Season Report:

...A peregrine falcon pair successfully nested and fledged 3 young in the Hawkins territory, marking the 4th consecutive year that a successful Peregrine falcon nesting effort has been documented at Pinnacles in the last 50 years.

We've been on the receiving end for years. State Parks, County Parks and MROSD have all made their anti-climber opinions well known since way back in 1996.

You don't think representatives of any climbers' organization were invited to any of those meetings surrounding the Trails Master Plan, do you?

The South Skyline Property Owners Association definitely does'nt like like people climbing at Castle, Indian and Summit. They're constantly raving about threats of arson and breaking and entering their property. Interesting too how Stu Langdoc, who used to be the self-appointed head of the so-called "Castle Rock Climbers Committee", is also on the board of directors of the SSPOA. Obviously, all those groups - State Parks, County Parks and the property association - are working together behind the scenes to make it extremely difficult to climb along the Skyline. Climbers as a group are just caught in the middle.

I think the real problem is that County Parks and State Parks are being pressured by the South Skyline Property Owners Association to reduce the number of people using Summit, Indian and Castle Rocks. Same reason NO PARKING signs have been posted every few feet all along that section of Skyline Boulevard.

The main point about the raptor closure at Summit is that it should be seasonal, during the peregrine nesting season from January to late July, not a blanket closure all year round. Makes no sense and besides as Dr. Stewart said, it's "unprecedented", and does not conform to standard practices in Yosemite, Zion or anywhere else for that matter.

Anyone who thinks California State Parks, Ranger J. Rule, Stu Langdoc, Santa Clara County Parks, SSA, and MROSD are "pro-climber" should immediately seek professional assistance from a mental health specialist. Climbers, as a user group. obviously rank far below dog-walkers, equestrians, and mountain bikers in their social hierarchy.

Part of the problem is of course that up until now, climbers have not been organized to the same extent as R.O.M.P. and the S.S.A.

Look at the bright side of all this. At least now we will know where the rangers are, they will be focusing their undaunting attention on these closures, leaving other climbing areas unattended.
Let's party!

The process seems to be working at a higher level. The Access Fund is starting to facilitate a dialogue between wildlife biologists, who will indeed be making recommendations, it appears, favorable to the interests of climbers. So, I think that Healyje is right in counseling moderation and less inflamatory language.

Prof. White's analysis of the situation at Summit seemed to demolish each of these arguments,

-the small size of the site makes disturbance more threatening to the birds;

-the small size of the site requires a more protective management strategy than large sites in national parks;

-the small size of the site requires closure of the entire rock; lateral or vertical partial closures would not be sufficiently protective;

-the natural (i.e. not man-made) character of the eyrie enhances the biology of the birds that reside there and, over time, of the regional population;

-the birds are resident, so a seasonal closure would not protect them from disturbance;

-distress calls indicate that the birds are disturbed sufficiently to warrant closing the site;

-disturbance causes significant psychological stress and a metabolic deficit;
-disturbance could cause the birds to abandon the site;
-disturbance could harm the birds;
-disturbance could cause the birds to move to another location (momentarily or permanently), thereby increasing their exposure to predation;
-peregrines have limited ability to adapt to disturbance.

10 miles to the north as the crow flies along the spine of Skyline Ridge from Summit Rock in Sanborn-Skyline State Park

But both eyries are located in Santa Clara County

Dr Sprock don't you mean that the Aquarian Valley falcons work the west side only? Aquarian Valley faces the Pacific, doesn't it? Can't see them flying over to the east side of the Skyline when they have all that territory to the west of their eyrie.

Aquarian Valley faces the Pacific, doesn't it?