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In the winter months, peregrine falcons start building their nests on Western North Carolina’s high cliffs.
Peregrines were on the endangered species list between 1970 and 1999 because of pesticides and lack of suitable habitat. Their populations have rebounded, but they are still at risk, and are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
That’s why there are special precautions for the falcons as they are building their nests.
“In 2024, wildlife experts observed eight successful pairings which resulted in at least 14 offspring,” said a release from the Forest Service. “While this trend is positive, any human interaction remains a major threat to the falcons’ recovery and may contribute to nest failure.”
Officials say this is especially important after Helene, when widespread road closures and tree blowdowns have left the forest in disarray and damaged habitat for other migratory birds.
Peregrine falcons are considered migratory birds. In western North Carolina, they can be found year-round but they visit the Piedmont in the fall and winter as part of their migration. They nest in pairs mostly in the state’s mountains and on the coast. Across the United States, their habits vary but overall they are territorial birds who need a lot of living space.
In order to protect nesting peregrine falcons, climbing cliffs and operating drones on certain rock faces in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests were prohibited as of Wednesday. These areas will be off limits until August 15.
Chris Kelly, a wildlife biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, says that while Helene didn’t damage peregrine habitat, it made monitoring their nests more difficult.
“So much of what we're trying to do right now to figure out impacts to birds and other species is,” Kelly said. “We haven't even been able to go in and see some of these habitats yet. We're relying on remote sensing data to see how the forest canopy has changed and then relying on that, being fairly accurate, which it may or may not be.”
The local nests are monitored in part through partnerships with the North Carolina Climbers Coalition, which uses the skills of its members to climb to the high cliffs where peregrines love to raise their young.
Kelly said many other migratory birds such as scarlet tanagers and cerulean warblers are suffering from loss of important forestland. Both of these birds depend on a dense tree canopy which Helene’s massive winds and floods fragmented. Kelly and other biologists are still assessing the damage, and aren’t completely sure about the impact on local populations.
Strangely, Kelly added, the hurricane might actually be good for other types of birds and for the falcons, which rely on songbirds as their prey.
“A lot of songbird species actually flourish when there's some type of disturbance in a forested landscape,” she said. “So we could see a flush of songbirds. Not necessarily the same species that were there before when it was closed for us. But, you know, that could, you know, in some capacity impact the peregrine's diet when they're hunting.”
The national forests will naturally regenerate as forest, Kelly said. In order to protect local birds on private land, she recommended planting native plants so that the food chain can thrive.
Cliffs closed to climbing and drones between now and August 15 across the region. These closures include the East Face of Pickens Nose, Whiteside Mountain, the north face of Lookingglass Rock, the Wall of Northern Aggression at Cedar Rock, Buzzard’s Roost, Whiterock Cliff, Shortoff Mountain at Linville Gorge, NC Wall, Apricot Buttress, and the Camel at Linville Gorge, and Big Lost Cove Cliff.
Correction: This story originally stated peregrine falcons were endangered. They were de-listed from the Endangered Species Act in 1999 but remain federally protected.
