Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (5/1/2013)
Pinnacles National Park Celebrates International Migratory Bird Day
East Side:
- 9:00 AM:
Birding Walk with Ranger Erv (1 hour)
Meet at Bear Gulch Nature Center- 10:45 AM:
Bird Talk with Ranger Erv (20 Minutes)
Meet at Bear Gulch Nature Center- 2:00 PM:
Bird Talk with Ranger Erv (20 Minutes)
Meet at Bear Gulch Nature Center
Condors of Pinnacles Talk with Ranger Sandra (20 Minutes)
Meet at Pinnacles Visitor Center- 8:30 PM:
Birds and bird habitats of Pinnacles slide presentation with Ranger Sandra (45 Minutes)
Meet at Pinnacles Campground AmphitheaterWest Side:
- 9:00-4:30:
Come join the fun with self-guided family-friendly activities
Meet at Chaparral Visitor Contact Station- 9:00 AM:
Birding Walk (1 hour)
Meet at Chaparral Picnic and Parking Area- 10:45 AM:
Bird Talk with Ranger Autumn (20 Minutes)
Meet at Chaparral Visitor Contact Station- 2:00 PM:
Bird Talk with Ranger Autumn (20 Minutes)
Meet at Chaparral Visitor Contact StationFor more information contact:
- Autumn Young
email: autumn_young@partner.nps.gov
phone: (831) 389-4427- Nichole Andler
email: nichole_andler@nps.gov
phone: (831) 389-4486
Park Opens Select Formations to Climbing Early (4/23/2013)
In what is yet another stellar example of the success of the ongoing, voluntary, raptor closures system in place at the Pinnacles, the Park has removed several popular climbing formation from the closures list months early.
Careful monitoring of raptor activity has made it possible to selectively remove several formations from the closures list without adversely effecting raptor mating behaviors. This is huge for climbers as several of the areas subject to closures are favored destinations - especially during spring when conditions are best.
FOP wishes to thank Gavin and the rest of those people involved in coordinating the voluntary closures program for their efforts and sensitivity to the climbing community.
Among the newly opened areas is the majority of the Balconies on the West Side. The south end of the formation remains closed and the Park asks that ALL climbers either rappel directly from their route or use the standard Northern rappel from the top of Hook and Drill. Avoid the southern climbs and any roof formations.
For complete closure details see the closure listing on this site or check the Park Web site AND always remember to check the Park's climbing notice boards before you hike in to any destination.
Thanks again to Gavin for all his work.
March/April Raptor Update (4/13/2013)
Hello Everyone -
Here is an update as to the status of raptors at Pinnacles for the past month.
Prairie falcons (PRFA) are finally choosing nest sites and incubating eggs. The peregrine falcon (PEFA) pair at Hawkins is also incubating eggs, and a 2nd PEFA pair has been newly documented at Crowley, likely responsible for abandonment of that territory by the PRFA pair previosuly there. At present the following have been documented: 8 nesting PRFA pairs, 3 more PRFA territories with nesting unconfirmed, a PEFA nesting pair, and a PEFA territorial pair. These are listed below:
- Resurrection Wall: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- Egg: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- South Balcones: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- Citadel: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- Pig Canyon: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- Drywall: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- Willow Spring Slide: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- North Chalone Peak: PRFA pair, nest confirmed
- NE Section 15: PRFA pair
- South Chalone Peak: PRFA pair
- Little Pinnacles: PRFA pair
- Hawkins Peak: PEFA pair, nest confirmed
- Crowley Towers / North Balconies: PEFA pair
The following territories are currently unoccupied, with no falcons observed within them:
- Scout Peak
- Goat Rock
- Central High Peaks
- Canyon North of Willow Spring
- Discovery Wall
- Pipsqueak Pinnacles
- Frog/Hand
- Prescribed Burn Cliffs / Gargoyle / Neglected Valley
- Machete Ridge
- Guard Rock
- Mating Rocks / Tugboat
- Rocks West of Chalone Housing
- North Wilderness Rock
- South Wilderness Rock
- Marion Canyon / Narrows
REMEMBER! This does NOT mean these areas are open for climbing. Only that they are currently unoccupied.
In general, falcon activity this season seems to be proceeding on schedule in regards to annual nesting schedules. The most unusual observations have been of a PEFA pair at Crowley Towers, and PRFA pairs at both North Chalone Peak and NE Section 15 (the area just north of the fire tower and peak summit). The PEFA pair at Crowley is the first documented occupying a territory on the west side of the park in over 50 years, and likely pushed out the territorial PRFA pair that was preparing to nest in the area earlier in the season. The PRFA at North Chalone Peak represent the first time that 2 territorial pairs have ever been confirmed in the area.
Please note that climbing and hiking advisories are in effect and will likely be updated within the next week, now that PRFA and PEFA are settled into territories and nesting. Advisory signs have been placed at Hawkins, Scout, Balconies, and Little Pinnacles, to protect these sensitive species from the pressures of hiking and climbing during the nesting season. Any assistance park staff can provide in diverting visitors from advisory areas, and reporting incidents of climbers and hikers in advisory areas to law enforcement staff, is highly appreciated!
Other raptors observed in the park in March and early April are also beginning to nest and occupy territories. Nests have been confirmed for golden eagles (GOEA), red-tailed hawks (RTHA), and red-shouldered hawks (RSHA) at the following areas:
- North Chalone Peak: GOEA nest
- Butterfield Canyon: RTHA nest
- Rose Canyon: RTHA nest
- Western Front: RTHA nest
- Lower Condor Gulch: RTHA nest
- Pinnacles Campground: 2 RSHA nests
- Bench Trail / Fire Road junction: RSHA nest
- McCabe Canyon: RSHA nest
Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks are active throughout the park along riparian corridors. American kestrels are active throughout the park and beginning to select nesting sites. A white-tailed kite pair may be beginning nest efforts east of the Bacon barn. A long-eared owl nest and a RSHA nest are also active in the Regan Ranch Canyon... Please talk with Linda Regan first if you are interested in walking on her property!
Thank you to all the staff that have continued to provide me with raptor observations; every detail on raptor behavior helps to provide a more complete picture of raptor breeding at the park. If anyone on staff wishes to report raptor observations, I would greatly appreciate it if you please fill out a wildlife observation card, and deposit it in my box in the RRM Office, or give it to me or Nate Melling in person.
In particular, thanks to the Trails crew, Resources weed crew, Scott Scherbinski, Autumn Young, Jennie Jones, Brent Johnson, Paul Johnson, Richard Neihardt, Joseph Belli, Dan Ryan, Joseph Webb, Linda Regan, and Alacia Welch for raptor observations. I appreciate the support!
If you have any observations within the park to report, or any raptor-related questions, please contact me through email or extension 276. Thanks!
GAVIN EMMONS
Raptor / Condor Biologist
5000 Highway 146, Paicines, CA 95043
831-389-4486 x276
Pinnacles National Park
Raptor Monitoring Update for February 2013 (3/12/2013)
Prairie falcons (PRFA) have returned to Pinnacles and are occupying territories, engaging in courtship displays, and inspecting cliff cavities for use as nest sites. The peregrine falcon (PEFA) pair at Hawkins is also actively defending the area and inspecting cliff cavity sites.
At present the following have been documented: 8 territories with PRFA pairs, 3 more territories with a single PRFA, and 1 territory with 1 PEFA. These are listed below:
- Goat Rock / Resurrection Wall: PRFA pairEgg / Chaos Crag / Tunnel: PRFA pair
- Hawkins Peak: PEFA pair
- Crowley Towers: PRFA pair
- South Balconies: PRFA pair
- Drywall: PRFA pair
- Pig Canyon: PRFA pair
- North Chalone Peak: PRFA pair
- South Chalone Peak: PRFA pair
- Willow Spring Slide: Single PRFA, pair likely
- North of Little Pinnacles (Yaks): Single PRFA, pair possible
- Machete Ridge: Single PRFA, pair possible
The following territories are currently unoccupied, with no falcons observed within them:
- Scout Peak
- Central High Peaks
- Canyon North of Willow Spring
- Discovery Wall
- Frog / Hand
- Pipsqueak Pinnacles
- Prescribed Burn Cliffs / Gargoyle Area
- Citadel
- D. Soto Canyon
- Guard Rock
- Rocks West of Chalone Housing
- Mating Rocks / Tugboat
- North Wilderness Rock
- South Wilderness Rock
- Marion Canyon
This does NOT mean that the areas are open for climbing, just that there is currently no raptor occupation. Check closures for the current climbing status.
In general, PRFA activity this season seems to be proceeding on schedule in regards to annual occupancy and courtship schedules. Some of the unoccupied territories listed above will likely have active falcon pairs that arrive later in the season by March or early April. Advisories are in effect to include the upper southwest face of Machete as a partial advisory area for the season. Advisories may be updated later in the spring if PRFA pair occupancy at Discovery Wall is confirmed and nesting is attempted.
Please note that climbing and hiking advisories went into effect as of January 22nd. Advisory signs have been placed at Hawkins, Scout, Balconies, and Little Pinnacles, to protect these sensitive species from the pressures of hiking and climbing during the upcoming nesting season. Any assistance park staff can provide in diverting visitors from advisory areas, and reporting incidents of climbers and hikers in advisory areas to law enforcement staff, is highly appreciated!
Golden eagles have also been seen regularly in and near the park over the past 4 weeks, with pairs confirmed at North Chalone Peak, the south end of South Wilderness Trail, and outside of the west side of the park at the Eucalyptus Grove.
Other raptors observed in the park in February include:
- American kestrels
- red-tailed hawks
- red-shouldered hawks
and have been seen in the Pinnacles Campground, near the Bacon barn, in McCabe Canyon, and in the South Wilderness, perching in valley oaks and sycamores and vocalizing. Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks are active throughout the park along riparian corridors. Owl species have been somewhat quiet in terms of early season vocalizations, but great-horned owls, western screech-owls, northern saw-whet owls, and barn owls have been active along riparian corridors, in the Pinnacles Campground, in housing areas, and in the bottomlands.
Thank you to all the staff that have continued to provide me with raptor observations; every detail on raptor behavior helps to provide a more complete picture of raptor breeding at the park. For those that don’t know, Nate Melling has returned for a second year to assist with raptor monitoring efforts after an excellent job broadening the list of documented nests last year. If anyone on staff wishes to report raptor observations, I would greatly appreciate it if you please fill out a wildlife observation card, and deposit it in my box in the RRM Office, or give it to me or Nate in person.
In particular, thanks to Jennie Jones, Arianna Punzalan, Paul Johnson, Joseph Belli, Dan Ryan, Joseph Webb, Linda Regan, and Alacia Welch for raptor observations. I appreciate the support!
If you have any observations within the park to report, or any raptor-related questions, please contact me through email or extension 276.
Thanks!
___
Gavin Emmons
Raptor / Condor Biologist
Pinnacles National Park
5000 Highway 146
Paicines, CA 95043
Office: 831-389-4486 x276
Amah Mutsun Tribal Band receives the Hartzog Award (2/28/2013)
The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band from Pinnacles National Park received the Hartzog Group Volunteer Service Award. Tribal volunteers collaborated with the park and the University of California at Santa Cruz and Berkeley to conduct two research projects that took an innovative approach to habitat restoration by integrating traditional Native American land management practices with contemporary techniques to restore and protect the natural and cultural processes of a unique California grassland system. As part of their studies, a traditional burn was reintroduced to the Pinnacles landscape with Tribal elders making the first ignition.
Tribal volunteerism and involvement is also enriching interpretive stories and programs, understanding of the park natural and cultural resources, and strategic planning. The park hosted its first archaeological field school in 2011 with Amah Mutsun tribal volunteers working side by side with University of California Berkeley archaeologists and students to conduct detailed archaeological surveys. Tribal participation fostered a greater learning opportunity for the students and park staff as they relayed cultural practices and philosophies relevant to the past and present through dance, song, and storytelling.
