After vanishing nearly two months ago, Serena made a surprise return to the downtown canyon late Saturday morning. She appeared on the east veranda while Ares was stationed at the nestbox. It seemed like a reunion display between these former mates might unfold—but before anything could develop, Vera arrived and promptly displaced Serena from the veranda.
It’s unclear whether any aerial confrontation took place between the two females. If there was one, it was brief—Vera was spotted on the lookout perch atop the State Office Building just minutes later. Serena, for her part, didn’t return. Her brief appearance may have simply been a territorial check-in, a way of assessing the status of the reigning pair.
We had assumed Serena had gone on to nest elsewhere after departing from Ares in March. If she had paired with another male and nested successfully, she’d likely be tending to well-developed chicks by now. Her presence here strongly suggests she is unpaired and without young this season.
Help Us Tell Their Story
The Utica Peregrine Falcon Project is working to install permanent interpretive signs in the downtown canyon—educational displays that will honor the incredible legacy of Astrid and Ares, the first known peregrines to breed successfully in Utica and Oneida County.
These signs will showcase striking images, share historical highlights, and offer insights into the recovery of this New York State Endangered Species. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to make this vision a reality. With your support, we can ensure the story of these extraordinary falcons—and the wildness they brought to our skyline—continues to educate and inspire.
Please consider making a contribution today:
👉 https://www.big-green.net/falcon/donate