Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for May 6, 2018 –
The early morning was overcast, cool and windy. The sun never came out, but it warmed up quickly into the high 60’s. Light rain fell occasionally during throughout day. Afternoon was mostly overcast with a few short breaks of sun and temperatures rose into the seventies. By evening rain became steadier.
Astrid came onto the eggs at 6:15 on Saturday evening. She remained on the eggs throughout the night. Ares showed up on the State Building at around 4:30 AM on Sunday. At 5:00, he came to the box with a small food item. Astrid took it and flew off into the darkness. We looked around with the cameras, but couldn’t find where she took the meal. At 6:54, the falcons did a quick switch at the box and Astrid was back on the nest. During the switch no pips were visible on the eggs. After leaving the box, Ares was on and off the State Building several times before the next changing of the guard took place at 8:53 AM. As Ares got comfortable and adjusted the eggs, Astrid took a perch on the State Building. She remained there until about 9:30, and after that we weren’t sure where she got off to. She returned to the box at around 10:05. She hopped right in and perched next to Ares as he kept tight on the eggs. He really didn’t want to leave. She stood there next to him for close to eight minutes before pressing her point. Truth be said, she ousted in a pretty polite way this time. She beaked with him before moving in closer; she didn’t step on his tail nor did she stomp on the tips of his primary wing feathers. At 11:15, Ares flew from his perch on the State Building. He returned to the north face of the State Building at 12:25.
Ares came out of nowhere and the pair switched at 12:45 PM, This time Ares relieved Astrid on the eggs and she went over to take a relatively low perch on the State Building. Astrid was up and down a few times and then at 2:40, she flew down after something and then was out of view for a while. She showed up at the box at 3 PM, and they switched. Ares was on the State Building, but then at 3:15, he was out of view. Astrid stood up off the eggs at 4:00 and that gave us an opportunity to check for pips again. None were found. At 4:46, Astrid called like she wanted Ares to come and relieve her. He was nowhere to be seen. He showed up at the box at 5:12, and by then, for some reason, Astrid didn’t want to be relieved. He stood next to her for at least 8 minutes while she vocalized at him, all the while hovering over her clutch. Finally he took the hint and dove out of the box. He went over to the State Building for a while. At 5:26, she came off the eggs to do some digging in the corner. In a few minutes she was back incubating. Ares tried to take over incubation again at 6:05. At first it looked like she was going to turn him away again, but then she suddenly yielded. She got up and flew out of the box. She glided to a perch on the State Building while he settled on the eggs. At 6:53, she flew out of view and wasn’t seen again until 7:10, when she arrived at the nest. This time Ares left quickly and she took over on the eggs. By this point, rain had started and it seemed the falcons were through for the night.