Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 29, 2018 –
It was rainy and overcast in the pre-dawn hours. After dawn the rain turned into snow showers which continued right through the day. Temperatures were in the high 30’s for the duration. In the downtown canyon, the snow turned to light rain by early evening.
Astrid had come onto the nest at 3:05, Saturday afternoon and she remained there through the evening and all through the night. The reason Ares skipped his turn at incubation likely had to do with the male intruder that came into the canyon last on Saturday. Regardless, Astrid served a marathon session on the eggs and wasn’t relieved until Ares came 4:13 AM on Sunday. Upon leaving she soared around the canyon a few times. At 6:10, she was on a relatively low ledge on the State Building. She flew off about 8 minutes later, only to return at 6:45. She was probably hunting.
At 7:17, she was back at the box and the pair switched. Astrid took over on the eggs and Ares flew to a ledge on the State Building. He was there for only a little while before departing on a hunting foray. His next appearance on camera was at 10:10 when he dramatically flew in from the north and took a high perch on the State Building. At 11:31, Ares came to the box and they switched. At that point it seemed Ares was happy to have a snooze on the eggs, just as Astrid seemed pleased to get some exercise. After briefly perching, she flew around the State Building several times. Her flight was more like a slow cruise through the rain. Following her tour she landed on a high ledge on the building’s north face and did some preening. At 12:29, Astrid launched from her perch and a few minutes later she was plucking a Pigeon on a ledge at Hotel Utica. She ate nearly the entire thing.
At 1:08, Astrid left the scene of her epic pig-out and flew over to the State Building. Ares chirped as she flew over, which was a bit surprising since he appeared to be sleeping. The falcons switched at 2:44 PM, and then Astrid was back on the eggs. At 3:00, Ares was on the hotel eating the scant amount of leftovers from Astrid’s big meal. He left shortly after and wasn’t relocated until Deb found him on the east face of the State Building. At 5:39, Ares brought prey to Astrid at the box. Despite her earlier meal, she took the tribute and dashed off with it. Ares took over on the nest while she flew around the State Building. Evidently she stored the food since her talons were empty when she took a perch on the north face of the building. Astrid stayed out late tonight. She didn’t relieve Ares until 8:10. He had been lightly chirping for her to come for about fifteen minutes and she finally obliged. After briefly perching on the north face of the State Building, Ares went off to his night perch. Good night, falcons.