July 28, 2009, 2:04 pm
The Precipice and Beech cliff areas and the Precipice Trail were
opened on Tuesday July 28, 2009 at Acadia National Park, Superintendent
Sheridan Steele announced today. The peregrine falcons that have
occupied these nesting territories since March have successfully raised
six fledglings. The trails were closed in late March to support ongoing
recovery efforts for the peregrine falcon in Maine, which is listed as
an Endangered Species under the Maine Endangered Species Act.
The fledglings have become less dependent on the cliff and their
parents over the last few weeks. Research has shown that nesting
falcons are particularly vulnerable to human disturbance originating
immediately above the nesting area or directed at the nest site.
Continued disturbances can lead to chick mortality or complete nest
failure, which further slows the recovery of the species in Maine. The
closures of the trails during the nesting season has proven to be
successful with nearly 100 chicks fledging from all cliffs within
Acadia National Park over the last 19 years, of which approximately 60
chicks have fledged from the Precipice. Biologists within Region 5 of
the US Fish and Wildlife Service, of which Acadia National Park is
located, who have been working on the recovery of the falcons in the
Northeast, have been opening nesting areas on cliffs approximately five
weeks after the last chick was documented to have fledged, or begin
flying from the nest. This determination about opening closed areas is
based on research that illustrated fledglings were less dependent on
the adults or their natal cliff area at or just after five weeks of
being able to fly. Although the falcons, both adults and juveniles, are
expected to stay in the vicinity of the Precipice Cliff and are likely
to be observed by hikers and climbers, hiking and climbing activity is
not expected to create disturbances that will harm the adults or the
juveniles. The connecting East Face Trail on the eastern face of
Champlain Mountain will remain until the earthquake damaged trail is
repaired and concerns about further slides have been addressed.
Additional information about the peregrine recovery program and
cliff or trail closures is available at the park’s visitor center and
headquarters.
