The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade took place in Utica this morning and the Peregrines had box seats – well, at east Astrid did. She stayed out on the perch and put up with the rain for the entire parade, which started at around 10 o’clock and lasted close to 90 minutes. Astrid did seem to give the event her full attention. She may have liked the bagpipes. Ares joined her at the box during the last half hour. They mated on the nest box perch when the parade was just about finished. The pair mated at least two other times today. As far as we know the pair took part in two ledge displays – one in the pre-dawn hour and one in the early evening. Ares brought food to Astrid at least once – the prey was an American Woodcock and she refused to take it. Although Astrid moved from perch to perch several times today, she seems to be lingering at each stop for long periods. We believe that she may be getting close to her egg laying time.
