2015 Peregrine Report

This season we observed 13 peregrine pairs occupying territories throughout Yosemite, mostly concentrated in Yosemite Valley along the Merced River Corridor.  Of those 13 pairs, we located 12 nests.  Of the 12 nesting pairs, we have confirmed 10 as productive (at least one young >34 days old or fledged):  The Rostrum, Wapama Cliffs, Lost Brother, Lake Eleanor, Cascade Cliffs, Mt. Broderick, Lower Cathedral Spire Alternate, B.O.L.T. Wall Alternate, NW face of Half Dome, and Fairview Dome.  Sadly, the nests at Arch Rock and Lost Arrow Spire suffered nestling mortality for unknown reasons.  The Fairview Dome nest was our final closure to be lifted, on August 15th.  We attribute the later timing for this nest to higher elevation and colder temperatures.  The Fairview Dome nest was the highest nest documented in the park at ~9,400 ft.  The remaining pair occupied the West, Southwest, and Southeast Faces of El Capitan.  This pair displayed pair-bonding behavior, however its nesting status is unknown, and all four recently occupied nest sites on both the SE and SW faces of El Capitan remain vacant.  We have observed single adults at Glacier Point and Wildcat Point (Tuolumne Watershed).

Seven of the 12 nesting pairs selected previously documented nest sites and 5 of those pairs reoccupied nest sites from last year (2014):  The Rostrum, Cascade Cliffs, Mt. Broderick, Lake Eleanor, B.O.L.T. Wall Alternate, and Lost Brother.  The Arch Rock pair relocated to the nest site that was discovered in 2009 (most recently used in 2013).  We documented 4 new alternate nesting sites for the following territories:  Half Dome NW Face, Wapama Cliff, Yosemite Point, and Lower Cathedral Spire.  The pair that occupied the Yosemite Point eyrie in 2014 and the Rhombus Wall in previous years, moved to a ledge located on Lost Arrow Spire.  The pair at Wapama Cliff selected a nest site closer to the falls and the pair at Lower Cathedral Spire moved to a ledge located on a buttress referred to as Church Tower.  Lastly, we documented a new territory at Fairview Dome.  We are uncertain if this pair nested on Medlicott Dome in 2012 and 2013, so we consider this pair a new nesting pair. 

The closure on Fairview included the very popular route: Lucky Streaks (5.10d, 6 pitches). The park was aware of two closure violations in attempts to climb Lucky Streaks, despite closure signage being posted on climber information boards, at gear shops throughout the park, and online at multiple climbing resource websites. A signboard was also present at the parking area for Fairview. In response to the violations, Climbing Management added an additional sign at the start of Lucky Streaks, midway through summer. Climber coffee was a great resource throughout the season for community conversation about the Peregrines, and to inform additional climbers about the closure.

Thank you to the climbing community for continuing to stay informed on climbing closures. Keep an eye out for these new young Peregrines next time you’re on a wall!