Another Windy Day & Not Without Drama

It was yet another windy day today in the downtown canyon. The morning was chilly, but afternoon temperatures soared into the 60s. Astrid called Ares over to the box to relieve her at 6:00 AM. A half hour later she was seen feeding on leftovers on the hotel ledge. While she fed, of all things, a real live pigeon stood no less than 3 feet away from her on the same ledge. The brave (or foolish) bird initially stood very still and it was almost as it was playing the part of a waiter, standing by Astrid’s table in case she needed anything else with her meal. Later on the pigeon got even closer, but then abruptly flew off. All the while Astrid showed no reaction and a little while later when the same bird swooped right by her, she still seemed oblivious. We believe that the pigeon was acting this way because it had a nest somewhere nearby. By 8:00, Astrid was on the eggs again, but then Ares showed up with a food tribute. She took it and presumably went off to eat it. “A second breakfast! Don’t mind if I do.” At 12:55 Astrid had been incubating for a couple of hours when she suddenly tore out of the box screeching. No intruder was seen at the time, but likely she was reacting to the presence of some kind of raptor passing through the territory. At 2:00 PM it was Ares’ turn to blast out of the box while giving staccato alarm calls. An intruder may have been glimpsed this time but we’re not sure what it was or even if it was another falcon. Neither falcon left the canyon in pursuit of anything and Astrid took up incubating without missing more than a couple of beats. By late afternoon, Ares was in the box again and Astrid was seen going on some short hunting forays. The pairs’ last switch at the box took place at just before 6:00 PM. Following that, Ares did some fancy flying around the canyon.