Orion Returns to a Mixed Welcome

After being absent from the Downtown breeding site for just over a week, Saturday morning, Orion, the youngest of this season’s brood, was brought back and released at the nestbox. Things didn’t go smoothly. Putting Orion in through the back of the nestbox worked like a charm, but Astrid, who was already quite perturbed for some unknown reason, went ballistic. She dove at the box again and again, which served to get the entire family (minus Orion) agitated and flying in tight circles around the bank building. So it was a swooping swarm of frenzied raptors that greeting Orion’s return. Astrid’s alarm chatter was nearly incessant and it put everyone’s nerves on edge – birds and falcon watchers alike. Orion spent her first hour home backed up into the box and ducking each time Astrid swooped close. By an hour later the parents, Comet and Skye, were all back on the State Office Building and some semblance of peace and quiet returned to the canyon. Later on Ares landed on the nest box and got a close look at his daughter. He couldn’t stay long, but he was obviously not looking at her like an intruder. After that, Comet and Skye returned to the box together. This was the first time all 3 siblings had been together since Comet inadvertently fledged about 11 days before. The three birds seemed fine together and spent over an hour loafing on the box’s perches and side verandas. Soon Orion was causal enough to preen and practice flapping. She even started hopping up onto the roof of the nestbox.  Later on in the day after a successful midair food exchange from Ares to Comet, Comet brought the prey over to the nest box and Orion grabbed it. Was that an intended feeding? Unfortunately as the day wore on, Astrid didn’t lighten up at all. She resumed diving at Orion in a manner consistent with an attempt to drive away an intruder. Time will tell if Astrid will change her behavior toward Orion. In the end, the acceptance shown by the other members of the family will mean little if she continues to reject her. If the rejection continues the chances of a mishap will increase and the need to have Fledge Watch volunteers on hand will be greater.