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Update for Friday, March 15, 2024

Astrid and Ares had another busy night guarding the nest box. Why they feel it necessary to guard the box all night long this year when they didn’t do it in previous seasons is a mystery. During the day Ares provided Astrid with at least three meals. They conducted three ledge displays at the nestbox, and several matings were confirmed. Once again, both falcons were accounted for during most of the day – guarding the nest site by day as they do by night. At one point during the afternoon, both were up on the roof of the State Office Building on the lookout perch. Whether they were on the watch for intruders or for prey is unknown – the two activities are not mutually exclusive.

Update for Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Astrid and Ares had a very active day in the canyon today. They guarded the nest most of the day. Ares arrived early, at 2 AM. They performed three ledge displays in the nestbox and mated many times. At one point during the day Ares seemed to get inspired by the sound of sirens going off in the Downtown canyon. He joined in with many long calls. I thought only dogs did that kind of thing? Ares did some practice egg shading Inside the box, which is one of the weirdest things that Peregrines do. Astrid appeared to be doing it too, but on the east veranda. We did not see any completed food exchanges, but we could have easily missed one since they happen so fast. We did see one attempted exchange, but Ares wouldn’t let go of the food. It was more like a scrap of something anyway.  

Update for Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Astrid and Ares were back on track with the breeding season today. No doubt, the warmer weather had a lot to do with it. Neither falcon spend all night at the nestbox but Ares did arrive at 3:30 AM with prey, which is still impressively early. Astrid did not come to take it. Of course, it was a Woodcock. The pair was confirmed mating several times, and they performed two ledge displays at the nestbox. Otherwise, Ares was in and out of the nest like a Jack-in-the-Box today – he was mostly obsessed with trying to get Astrid to come over for a dance or to lay an egg. Late in the day, at around 5:30 PM, Ares brought more prey to the box and Astrid did take it. He stood guard over her while she fed on the hotel ledge. They mated once more after dinner and then we think they went to their night perches.  

Update for Monday, March 11, 2024

There is not all that much to report for Monday. It was cold and extremely windy, albeit sunny. Astrid spent much of the day on the north face of the State Building and Ares bounced back and forth between being near her and being at the nestbox. He definitely tried hard to get her to come over, but she resisted until late afternoon. Then they had two ledge displays within a ninety-minute period. During the second dance Ares was trying to bring up a pellet. For Astrid it was like dancing with someone with a bad case of hiccups.

Update for Sunday, March 10, 2024

The weather gave us a reality check today – reminding us that it’s early March and not early May. Ares guarded the box through the night once again, and much of their behavior during midday led us to believe they were dealing with an intruder. At around noon, Astrid was so distracted by something going on in the canyon that she wouldn’t commit to coming all the way inside the nest for a ledge display. Ares came to the nest with prey a couple of times – neither time did Astrid accept his gift. Of course, the first time involved a Woodcock, and Astrid doesn’t care for those. In the mid-aftenoon the pair shared a rather conventional ledge display at the box. For the balance of the day, Astrid remained on the north face of the State Building. Ares bounced back and forth between there and the nestbox. At the end of the day, both appeared to retire to perches on the east face of the State Building. It was the first time we had seen that behavior in several days.