Hi all,

After what can only be described as a fantastic season... Bare Rock is closed to climbing for the Peregrine nesting season.

There will be at least a 6 week to 2 month closure, final duration will be made by the resident raptor expert after that period. I will post once again when it is all back up and running, but for now, I would greatly apreciate the continued support of the climbing community in looking after these magnificent birds and the cliff in general.

I apprecate the way in which climbers have supported this move and love the respect that has been shown to our property in general. Thanks to all the climbers who have been up over the last year, you made it a fantastic place to be. During the break, I will be working on developing a small fixed campsite (hut and tent platforms) on the top of the property, closest to the cliff. Anyone who wants to be involved in a building day / materials gathering... please get in touch. A big thanks to Simon Young for sourcing roofing iron for the hut already!

Kind regards

Andrew

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2 Comments

  1. dave james

    Sounds amazing up there Andrew!  A hut and tent platforms would be ace. I'd probably go and stay there just for the view. Or to watch birds.

    Hey thanks for looking out for the peregrines, back in the nineties i had many formative experiences helping with some research on them.

    I'd say 8 weeks might not really be enough given incubation time is about 4 weeks and time from hatching to fledging is maybe 6 weeks. Consider also it might be a bit tricky to tell when incubation starts and any disturbance immediately before then may delay egglaying or may even cause abandonment. At the other end any distress to the adults before the chicks fledge decreases likelihood of survival. Probably fair to say that anytime the falcons are calling incessantly or swooping at climbers then they are getting stressed. The stress hormones can take some time to leave the system after the disturbance leaves and if frequent or persistent then it becomes a drain on the immune system. In addition its energy they would be better off saving for hunting to feed their chicks. I am partly talking on first principles of bird stress here sorry about the lecture. You may like to talk to Nick Mooney 0427826922 (if u haven't already) for more definitive comment.

    put a post up if you have a working bee. I'd be happy to lend an impact driver for a day or two as they are pretty frickn handy for that sort of stuff. I may also have a few bits and pieces left over from building my house...

    cheers

    d

    1. Andrew Martin AUTHOR

      Thanks Dave...

      I really appreciate your feedback. Nick is definitely in the loop. The 6 weeks - 2 months is the first period... from there we know where they are nesting. If they are way down one end, there may be a very small chance to do some development on the complete other end of the crag. Having said this, if there is any chance at all of disturbing the birds then a blanket ban will remain in place for the duration of the season (3 months +). I will keep people in the loop after the first 2 month period... but chances are that we will keep the whole place shut for the duration.

      We will have a crack at the huts and platforms shortly... that could be pretty cool!

      Kind regards

      Andrew