Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for June 2, 2018 –
Astrid was at the nest box for most night. In the 11 o’clock hour she went over to the church steeple for a little while. When she returned, she attempted to land on the long perch, but miscalculated and slipped off. She flew back and made a solid landing on it less than a half-minute later. There were no overnight feedings. Astrid remained at the box until 4:48 AM. We weren’t sure where she went to after that. Presumably she was out trying to catch a Pigeon. Ares was on nest duty in Astrid’s absence. He visited the box and then took a perch on the steeple. Astrid showed up at 5:48 and also perched on the steeple. Both falcons were obviously in hunting mode. Astrid was seen making plays for multiple unseen targets. At 7:20, Ares was on the ledge at Hotel Utica plucking a Pigeon. Apparently he had received Astrid’s memo (that would be the “no cuckoos” memo). After taking his share of Pigeon meat off the top, he brought it to the nest, where Astrid grabbed it and began feeding it to the chicks. It was still a good sized meal and Astrid was able to pack the chicks with it pretty well. For the most part the nestlings were well-behaved during that feeding. Meanwhile Ares had gone back over to the hotel and while he was there he was scolded by a Pigeon. The Pigeon likely had a nest nearby and was hoping to drive the him away.
For a while in mid-morning, both parents were out of view. Finally, at 9:07, one showed up on the State Building. Astrid did a chick-check at the box shortly after that. She settled on top a pillar to the west of the nest box. She was still in hunting mode. At 10:30, Astrid launched from the pillar. Ares had food and he brought it to the box. Astrid unceremoniously grabbed it away and conducted the feeding. The meal was probably a chunk of a Mourning Dove, but we weren’t sure. After the feeding both parents went over to the State Building. The nestlings spent some time tramping around the box and flapping their wings. They are starting to actually look like wings as fringes of flight feathers now protrude from their trailing edges. They nestlings are just now beginning to get the salt & pepper look as dark contour feathers also begin to protrude out from their downy fuzz. The chicks themselves are very aware of their surroundings now and are able to follow all the moves their parents make outside of the box.
At 12:06, Ares was seen picking at some leftovers on the State Building. Ten minutes later he brought the food over to the nest. He seemed to be primed to do a feeding, but then Astrid barreled in and tried to take the food. Still gripping it, he made for the exit. He flew into the canyon with a rather gory streamer of leftovers dangling below him. In a few moments he came back with it and landed on the east veranda. Astrid hopped over and grabbed it (almost dropping it) and then she flew off with it! It became her streamer! Fifteen seconds later she returned with the same food and fed it to the nestlings. Ares remained on the east veranda during that entire feeding session.
For much of the afternoon, both adults remained in view – usually on the State Building. At 2:48, Ares came into the box from the east veranda. He rummaged around on the floor until he found a scrap of food. He hopped onto the long perch to eat it. At around 5:05, Ares brought what looked like a swallow to the box. Astrid came over, grabbed it from him and did the feeding. It was a fairly quick meal. Afterwards, both parents were out of view for a while. Astrid nest showed up on the steeple at 5:33. She made frequent forays into the canyon and was definitely in hunting mode. At 6:48, we confirmed her success. She was plucking a Pigeon on the ledge of the hotel. After feeding on it some she brought it to the nest and stuffed the little ones until they refused to take any more. With loud chirps she kept encouraging them to take one more bite. Finally she gave up and stored the leftovers on the State Building. After that she took a perch on the steeple. Fluff from cottonwood trees was floating past her on the wind. It resembled snow flurries. Ares had been out of view for almost three hours; suddenly we located him on the ledge of the hotel. He was plucking something large – probably a Pigeon. He did exactly what Astrid had done. He ate some of it and then brought the rest over to the nest. Ares screeched as he flew through the canyon and passed his mate. He landed on the east veranda perch and waited a few seconds for her to arrive. From the cross-perch she stretched out and grabbed at the food with her bill, but couldn’t quite hold it. She then more adeptly seized it with one foot and hopped into the box (that’s the way to do it!). Ares flew over to the State Building while she tried to rally the chicks. That fact was, they were still full from the last big meal. They took a few bites in slow motion, but they couldn’t be coaxed into taking any more. Astrid took the leftovers and stored then on the State Building. It was then around 8 PM; she had taken a perch on the steeple, while Ares stayed on the State Building. It sure seemed like everyone was settled for the night. Maybe they were. The naming contest for the three chicks ends this evening (Saturday night). That means that by this time tomorrow the kids should have names! Thanks to all that submitted names.