To the more adventurous climbers, Scotland's cliffs and rock faces are often a challenge, but they can disturb the many raptors which nest in these inaccessible places with damaging, and possibly illegal, consequences.
As most Scottish golden eagles and virtually all peregrines nest on rocky crags, they are not easily disturbed.
But there have been a number of incidents when rock climbers have inadvertently intruded on nesting birds of prey during climbs. This may lead to nests being abandoned, eggs failing, and even chicks falling from the nest.
All wild birds and their nests are protected by law. It is an offence to recklessly or intentionally damage the nest of a wild bird or to prevent a wild bird from using its nest. But for most species of raptor, the law goes further by making it an offence to disturb the birds while they are building a nest; or to disturb the birds while they are in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young; or to disturb the dependent young of a bird.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) were first made aware of nests being disturbed by climbers in Glen Doll, in the Angus Glens. But it soon became apparent that these were not isolated incidents. So, along with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS), a new system has been set up to protect cliff-nesting raptors.
MCofS already had an 'traffic light' system on their website, which informs climbers which crags have nesting raptors and should be avoided, and which ones are safe to climb.
But the system relies on up-to-date reports to be effective. However ornithologists are sometimes reluctant to share information on the birds for fear of deliberate persecution or of unintentional disturbance by others such as eco-tourists.
So, SNH put MCofS in touch with the Scottish Raptor Study Group (SRSG). Now, some of the 12 regional RSGs provide MCofS with regular updates for their website, with plans for more to contribute in the future. The climbers themselves are also encouraged to report any raptor sightings to MCofS, which in turn are passed on to the SRSG to add to their records.
Andy Turner, SNH wildlife crime officer, said:
"Hopefully, this simple but effective system will allow climbers to enjoy their sport, while helping raptors nest undisturbed."
Andrea Partridge, MCofS's access officer, said:
"The aim of the traffic light system on our website is to provide climbers with enough information so that they can make a responsible and informed decision on where to go climbing. Already this year, several climbers have reported nest sites direct to the MCofS and these have also been added to the list. I would urge climbers to always check the website before they set out to go climbing but also to be aware that there may be other nesting raptors that haven't been recorded and to be prepared to change plans if there is any risk of disturbance."
Patrick Stirling-Aird of the SRSG, said the group welcomed the 'traffic light' system on the MCofS's website and hoped that all climbers would check this part of the website. "With careful planning, rock climbing and raptor conservation can co-exist happily together," he said.
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