The first of three main lookouts at Robertson Cliffs — a favourite hiking spot for locals and tourists located 35 kilometres north of the Sault — will be closed at the end of the current hiking season in the fall.
The decision to close comes after the Algoma Highlands Conservancy noticed that a group of peregrine falcons abandoned their longtime nest near the lookout.
It is strongly suspected that the use of fireworks by visitors to Robertson Cliffs, along with the use of a drone close to the falcons’ nest near the first lookout, caused the birds to abandon the area, said Kees Van Frankenhuyzen, Algoma Highlands Conservancy president.
“We know from history that having people on top of the lookout doesn’t bother the falcons," Van Frankenhuyzen told SooToday. "But I suspect they do mind fireworks and drones."
Conservancy volunteers noticed the nest was empty after the Victoria Day weekend.
Disturbing the breeding and other activities of peregrine falcons — an endangered species — is punishable under the Fish and Wildlife Act of Ontario with a $25,000 fine or one-year imprisonment.
The Algoma Highlands Conservancy is offering a $500 reward for information leading to identification and prosecution of the individuals who used fireworks and drones in the area.
“There was a pile of fireworks debris on top of the lookout. We know exactly what type of fireworks they were too because we picked up the mess. And the person with the drone, we have a witness. It was a male in his 20s flying the drone,” Van Frankenhuyzen said.
“We at least would like to talk to the people who used the fireworks. We want people to know those types of activities are not tolerated for a reason and they are punishable because it’s against the law. Maybe the man with the drone was just taking pictures of the scenery and had no idea that there was a falcon nest there. It all starts with awareness.”
Peregrine falcons had been nesting at that spot at Robertson Cliffs since the mid-1990s.
“At that time, peregrine falcons were very much a threatened species. They were affected by pesticide use and they had almost disappeared from the landscape. Around that time people started captive breeding programs, then released falcons into the wilds to reestablish the falcon population, and one of those sites where that was done was Robertson Cliffs,” Van Frankenhuyzen said.
An estimated 20 to 30 captive raised falcon chicks were released while others stayed and nested.
“They’ve been nesting there since and the ones that were nesting there now are the offspring of the ones that nested there in the 1990s and they keep coming back to the same place,” Van Frankenhuyzen said.
Peregrine falcons have also nested on the International Bridge and in and around big buildings in larger cities such as Toronto.
“We’re going to close that first lookout to visitors in the hope the falcons will come back next spring and reestablish their nesting site,” Van Frankenhuyzen said.
There are three main lookouts at Robertson Cliffs.
“It will not diminish the hiking experience at Robertson Cliffs because we have all the other lookouts that are just as spectacular as the first one,” Van Frankenhuyzen said.
Fireworks, drones and fleeing birds aren’t the only causes of grief for the Algoma Highlands Conservancy lately.
Volunteers have had to haul large amounts of garbage away from the area.
An illegal campfire was held in one of the area’s parking lots in May and a "No Dumping" sign in the area had bullet holes in it, Van Frankenhuyzen said.
“We want to get that message out to the community, saying ‘don’t do these things.’ They’re wrecking the environment and they’re wrecking it for other users.”
Anyone wishing to report damage to the natural environment anywhere in the Algoma Highlands Conservancy area can contact the group by email.