Uncategorized – Page 205 – Utica Peregrine Falcons

Possibly a Week to Ten Days Away From Egg Laying

Astrid arrived to the box very early this morning – sometime before 4:45. By sitting in the box so long, it seems like she’s trying the nest scrape on for size. We could be as close as one week away from egg laying, but of course, we don’t know for sure. As far as we know there was no mating attempts today. The pair shared a ledge display at the box at 6:30 AM and then again at 5:50 PM. Ares also took some turns sitting in the box. Both appear to be practicing for the incubation vigil that is soon to come.

3 16 17 6 — Astrid gets to the box very early this morning

3 16 17 5 — An early morning ledge display at the box

3 16 17 2 — Another ledge display in the late afternoon

3 16 17 1 — Lots of “beaking” during the afternoon dance

A Quiet Day in the Canyon

The falcons were pretty subdued today. No matings were noted, nor were there any ledge displays. We didn’t see Ares give a tribute to his mate, but then again, he may have. Astrid was seen eating a meal on the Hotel ledge, but it’s possible that she caught the prey herself. Both falcons spent time in the box today. Ares seemed like he was practicing incubating eggs. He even shifted position a few times. Landing on ledges on the State Building was a little difficult for Astrid given the snow build-up. The entire east ledge of the hotel was also made inaccessible due to a large snow drift.

3 15 17 2 — Ares was acting like he was incubating eggs – he wasn’t

3 15 17 5 — Astrid having her dinner on the hotel

3 15 17 3 — Ares waiting patiently for Astrid to show up

Today’s Huge Snowstorm

The great snowstorm of 2017 happened today and the falcons had a front row seat for it. While much of the region was brought to a standstill, the falcons managed to accomplish a few things on their agenda. Astrid arrived at the box before 5:00 AM. Astrid was at the box for much of the morning and Ares was there for a fair portion of the afternoon. The pair mated twice and Ares handed food off to his mate once. By late afternoon the wind kicked in and the snow was piling up high. There was even some drifting inside the nestbox, which may be a first. Hopefully, tomorrow will be an easier day for all.

Astrid gets to the box before 5:00 AM – even before Ares

Another Active Day for Our Falcons

Over the past week, Ares has been arriving at the nest box quite early in the morning and usually well before sunrise. This morning he arrived at 5:45 AM. Astrid landed on the north face of the State Building at precisely the same time. Today the pair mated twice and attempted to at least two other times. Ares brought food to Astrid three times, the last time she didn’t take it because she was obviously already full (she had a huge crop). Astrid was away from the canyon for a few hours in the afternoon and early evening. During this time Ares seemed to be anxiously awaiting her return. He called for her frequently and watched from several different lookout points. Finally at close to 7:00 PM she returned to the fold. Both came to the box and Ares tried first to give her a Starling and then when she refused it, he tried to entice her into a ledge display. That didn’t happen either. Soon after, both went off to their night perches. Good night falcons!

Ares tries to interest his mate in a third course

Ares gives up trying to tempt Astrid and leaves the prey on a ledge

IMG_0179 (1) — Astrid showing a very full crop

Falcons Back in the Swing of Things

It was another very cold day in the downtown canyon. By all appearances, Astrid and Ares weren’t as put out by it as they were on Saturday. In fact they mated on the State Building in the early morning when the temperature was still only in the single digits. Later in the day, Ares brought at least one if not two food tributes to Astrid (one she may have caught herself). She was seen feeding on the hotel ledge while he kept a close watch. After she was done, Ares had his share. The pair took part in a late day ledge display at the nest box. Lately their ledge displays have been very long and have involved much beaking, but not much dancing or bowing.

Ares spent a lot of time in the nest box today – guarding it and encouraging Astrid to come over

Astrid feeds on the hotel ledge while Ares keeps lookout

A late day ledge display features much beaking behavior

Ares prepares to dive out of the box after their display

Astid surveys her downtown domain from the nest box