Quick changeovers were the rule on this cold and rainy day. The first changing of the guard took place at 5:39 AM and several more would follow as the morning progressed. At 10:18 Ares came screeching to the box and startled Astrid who apparently had been napping. She let out a squawk which sent him leaping out of the box again and back over to the State Building. A half hour later, she called for him to come back and he dutifully took over incubating the eggs. At 11:30, Astrid came back to the box to switch, but Ares didn’t want to leave. She conversed with him for 10 minutes; he gave little squeaks and she gave her low donkey calls. When he wouldn’t leave she invaded his space, beaked with him a few times and then resorted to stepping on his wing feathers. That move got his attention and he got up off the eggs pretty quick. At 6:00 PM Ares brought part of a woodcock up to the east veranda and Astrid hopped over to take it from him (leaving the eggs uncovered for a few moments). She flew over to eat it on the hotel, while he took over incubating the eggs. At 7:00 Astrid returned to the box with a full crop. She was set to take over on the eggs, but Ares didn’t want to go. She left and came back 5 minutes later and he still didn’t want to leave. Finally at 7:50 she came back a third time, and by then Ares was ready to leave. She took over on the nest and he flew – presumably off to his night perch.
