Cat Wall Closed For Nesting Birds

When I first came across this I thought maybe it was an April Fool’s joke, but it appears several walls in Indian Creek have been closed until August 31,2009, because of nesting falcons and golden eagles. From the Friends of Indian Creek website:

“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has documented a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons and a pair of Golden Eagles in the Reservoir Wall and Cat Wall climbing areas. These raptors are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the BLM is required to protect these raptors from activities that may cause stress and/or nest abandonment. Therefore, the entire portion of Reservoir Wall, Slug Wall, and Cat Wall climbing areas, as well as the access road into the area will be closed until August 31, 2009. Closure signs have been placed in the area and all the kiosks along Indian Creek. Thank you for your help in protecting our natural resources. If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Wallace, Wildlife Biologist for the BLM Monticello Field Office at 435-587-1527. ”

I can’t remember any closures of this sort down there in the last 8 years or so, but I guess they gotta do what they gotta do to protect them birds! Cat Wall is too hot this time of year anyways!