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It was intensely cold in the early morning (only 5 degrees!) and that did seem to slow the falcons down a bit. Even so, they were seen mating on the State Building before 8:00 AM. There were two food transfers during the morning; the first tribute that Ares brought to his mate was a Starling and the second appeared to be the remains of a Woodcock. Astrid ate the former meal on the east ledge of the hotel. There were two other attempted matings reported – both on the State Building. The pair took turns being rather sedentary in the nest box for most of the day and then became much more active in the late afternoon and early evening. By evening they were seen swooping around the canyon quite a bit. Ares brought most of a Woodcock to Astrid who was waiting at the box, but he wouldn’t let go of it when she tried to accept it. Instead she gave up and he stored the meal on the State Building. A little later Astrid retrieved it and I think, fed on it. Astrid ended the day on the southeast corner of the County Building. She angled herself so she could watch the crows streaming in to their night roosts in the city. At about 7:30 PM Ares took a perch on the opposite corner of the same building. Good night, Falcons!

Today was windy and very cold, but was not without long sunny breaks. Areas showed up at the nest box at about 6:15 AM and Astrid simultaneously appeared on the State Building. The pair shared two full ledge displays at the box and there was at least one mating seen. As far as we know there was only one food exchange that took place at the nest box. Both falcons spent a fair amount of time “box” sitting. During one of her turns Astrid did some general housekeeping and she make a scrape in the gravel. During one of Ares’ shifts at the box he saw something (probably a migrating raptor) that caused him to let out a loud alarm chatter. He didn’t chase after anything though. Also, Astrid had been perching on the State Building and wasn’t compelled to make a move. In other words – I don’t think there was any big threat by that unidentified transient .

Astrid arrived at the nest box before 5:00 this morning. Ares showed up with her breakfast about 90 minutes later. It was a fresh Woodcock. She declined it – at least initially. Later on the pair was seen mating on the steeple. They performed one ledge display at the box today. This time they did more moving around than in their more recent dances. Astrid found a new place to perch on the steeple today – it was on one of the highest and narrowest ledges. Not to be outdone, Ares perched on the roof of the State Building for a while.  Late in the day, Ares brought Astrid another meal and handed it off to her at the nestbox. All in all it was a good day.

In the early morning the fog was so thick in the downtown canyon that we couldn’t even see the State Building let alone see if Astrid was perched on it. Ares came to the box at about 5:00 AM, but Astrid remained scarce for the first half of the morning. Later on their activity levels ramped up quite a bit. So much so that it was hard to get handle on where the pair was. By the time we pointed the camera at them, they’d be gone. There were at least two food exchanges today. Astrid showed a particularly full crop by late afternoon. Ares tried to give her the second tribute (which was really just a scrap) at the box, but she wouldn’t take. He followed her over to a perch on the steeple and there the pair performed a ledge display – while Ares still had food in his talons!

 

The Utica Peregrines were fairly active today. The sunny skies and mild winds allowed for great flying. Ares came back in the morning with a food tribute for Astrid. After a few tries he successfully handed it off to her on the nest box perch. The pair shared a ledge display at 12:15 PM and again at 3:00 PM. There were at least two matings during the morning. The pair’s afternoon activities were not as well monitored, but apparently Ares made multiple visits to the box. Astrid sailed around the canyon a few times in the early evening. Ares manned the box as the sun set.