Author: Matt Perry

Update for Tuesday, May 14, 2024

There were three overnight feedings. There would have been a fourth, but that one would have been a cuckoo. Ares landed on his pillar perch and partially plucked it, but then couldn’t quite bring himself to bring it to Astrid. He knew she would reject it. At least that’s what it seemed like he was thinking. She does famously dislike cuckoos. The meals kept coming during the day with a little lull during the hottest part of the afternoon. At one point during the afternoon Ares brought prey into the box (not a cuckoo). Astrid didn’t rush over to take it from him and so he proceeded to do a feeding on his own. He looked to be doing a competent job. Later on, Astrid brought most of a Pigeon to the box. While she was conducting the feeding, Ares showed up at the nest with still more prey. He tried to get the chicks interested in what he had, but Astrid’s feeding style is difficult to compete with – she’s intense, captivating and impossible to ignore for any chick. I’m afraid Ares was no competition. They didn’t even seem to notice he was there with food, only concentrating on their mother. Ares didn’t stay long and opted to store his food on one of his pantry ledges. Interestingly, despite today’s heat, the falcons didn’t feel the need to shade the chicks in the box. They seem to understand that the nestlings are now capable of making their own way to the shade in the back of the box. After that meal, we heard chirping type alarm calls from Ares in the canyon somewhere. There was an active Peregrine intruder in the territory and he seemed to be dealing with it.  Astrid left the nestbox, stored the leftovers and perched on the steeple – ready to be called into action if needed. Apparently, Ares successfully drove off the intruder and was back on the State Office Building before too long.

Update for Monday, May 13, 2024

The chicks were feeding on a good pasture again today, with Astrid conducting the feedings and Ares providing the prey. Three meals were delivered during the night, and many more throughout the day. Later in the morning, Astrid became irritated by people near the windows of offices adjacent to the nestbox—at least, that’s what seemed to be bothering her. She didn’t go into full defensive mode with prolonged cackle calls, but she did give s single cackle and then spent some time on the roof of the nestbox, glaring at an office window.

In the afternoon, Astrid grew frustrated with the nestlings. They were seeking shade at the back of the box but had separated—two in one corner and one in the middle against the wall. Astrid spent about ten minutes trying to corral them back together into one squirming baby pile.  Despite their resistance and complaining chatters and squeals, she jostled them along and used her wings to scoop and move them. Eventually, she succeeded in getting all three where she wanted them.

Update for Sunday, May 12, 2024

The chicks are being left alone in the nest box for extended periods now. On Saturday night, Astrid didn’t come into the box until 10:15 PM. Obviously, the nestlings are now large enough to generate their own heat. They are certainly getting sufficient energy from the many feedings taking place day and night. Indeed, every day they’re looking more like birds and less like bobble-headed snowman. They were even seen preening today. They also have the very beginnings of a fringe of feathers protruding from their tails. Soon they will have their dark masks and pale cheek patches. Their crops were also protruding today – a tangible result of the many feeding sessions. While the parents aren’t inside the box as much now, they remain vigilant nestbox guards – always somewhere close by, ready to defend the nest and its precious contents.

Update for Saturday, May 11, 2024

Ares got his first chance this season to feed one of the chicks. It happened in the mid-afternoon, shortly after Astrid had conducted a meal. Ares picked up some scraps off the floor and began to try to feed one of the nestlings. As usual, it took him a while to get a nestling to look at him and the fact they were full already meant they were more apt to ignore him. As it happened, one of the three decided it could still manage a bite, held its beak agape and aimed it towards Ares. It then received from its father a tiny bit of skin and feathers. After that historic event, he picked at the scrap on his own for a little while and left. Indeed, it was a small meal for a chick, but a highly satisfying one for a father. At least Astrid did not stop him from doing it. Also of interest, one of the chicks gave its first cackle-type alarm calls today. No worries, it was merely a practice call, and the nestling wasn’t actually breaking the glass and pulling the alarm.

Update for Friday, May 10, 2024

Despite the rain and somewhat dismal conditions, Ares came up with 8 meals for the chicks today, thus proving, after all these years, he remains a formidable provider. He did take a break from hunting and retrieving pantry items between about 2:00 and 5:00 AM; that was probably due to heavier rainfall at that time and through the rest of the day. Of course, we are unable to see how much Ares has stored on his pantry ledges on the State Building. Late in the afternoon, Ares came to the east veranda and Astrid followed him over, landing on the crossperch. She scrambled over to him expectantly, but he didn’t have anything for her and dashed off. He returned less than ten minutes later, and this time he had prey. Astrid took it and conducted a feeding. Following the meal, Astrid left and Ares came in to brood. He repeatedly tried to get on top of the heap of nestlings, but he couldn’t manage in. It was a ridiculous scene.