Another Day, Another Hatch!! Three chicks and Possibly Still Counting

It was another big day for the Utica Peregrine Falcons. The day was off to a cold start with temperatures in the low thirties. Astrid stayed very tight on the two nestlings and remaining eggs all night. Ares brought food to the nest box at 4:00 AM. We couldn’t be sure what species the prey was since it was so dark out, but we think it was a Starling. Astrid took it and began feeding the two chicks. After the chicks had their fill, she took the leftovers out of the box and presumably stored them. At 4:27, Ares brought prey to the box again. We weren’t sure if it was the same food as before, but whatever it was, Astrid took it and attempted another feeding. However the chicks were still satiated from their earlier meal and wouldn’t even put their heads up. During a changing of the guard at around 7:00 we determined that there was a pip on egg # 3.  Twenty minutes later Astrid was back and feeding the chicks again. Meanwhile Ares spent quite a while perching on a sunny spot on the upper ledge of the hotel. Another feeding took place at 10:38. After that it was clear that the two chicks had full crops. At 11:49, the “pipped” egg looked more like it had been sawed in two. Obviously a hatch was imminent. At 12:21 PM, Astrid shifted just enough for us to see that the third egg had hatched. A pinkish new chick was just visible and Astrid was eating some of the eggshell.  At 1:58, After Astrid left the box to escort some Turkey Vultures out of the territory, we got a look at egg # 4 and we were fairly confident it showed a pip. A little later on the small hole seemed to develop into a large crack and the egg looked like it was about to burst open at any minute. Later on, better views of egg # 4 revealed that it had in fact become cupped inside the half-shell of egg # 3. This meant that were not about to experience another hatch in short order. It’s still possible that egg # 4 is pipped, but so far we haven’t gotten a good enough look to tell for sure, at least not yet. At 5:30 PM Ares brought more food to the box, Astrid took it and then quickly flew off with it. Ares brooded the clutch until Astrid returned a few minutes later to do a feeding. This time all three young were fed. As I finish this update, Astrid is in the nest with the young and the remaining egg. Ares is standing guard on the State Building. It’s clear that after yesterday’s rather rough start, A & A are very much back in the swing of things and they are once again ready for prime time. If there are any more interesting developments this evening I will be sure to write a quick update.