Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for May 16, 2018 –
The first feeding of the day began a couple of minutes before 4 AM. Only moments before, Ares had been perched on the State Building, so it’s likely the food he brought came from his pantry. The falcons switched at 6:24 and Ares took over on the nest. He had one look at the chicks and then went out on the cross perch. Sometimes it seems he doesn’t quite know what to make of them. He likes to feed them, but just hanging around with them is awkward. At 7:15, he was off the hook; Astrid returned and she took over brooding duty. Ares screeched through the canyon at 7:38; he had prey in his talons and he brought it right to the box. Astrid took it and conducted a feeding. Another food drop and feeding took place at 8:10. Astrid went back to brooding after the meal was done. At 10:18, chirping calls were heard in the canyon. Astrid became very alert and started rapidly looking around. Ares arrived at the box with more prey. She took it and fed the nestlings. They were eating very well today. By 11:26, temperatures were in the 70’s and it was warm enough to leave the chicks alone in the nest. Astrid went over to perch on the State Building. We weren’t sure of Ares whereabouts at that time. At noon, she came over and did a quick “chick-check” at the box. Ares came back into the fold at 12:30, at which time both parents were perched on the State Building.
Ares screeched to the box at 12:40. We weren’t sure what that was all about, but shortly after, both parents were out of view. Astrid came to the box at 12:47 and two minutes later, she was gone and Ares was at the box. By 1:30, Astrid was brooding the clutch again. Fifteen minutes later, Ares arrived with lunch. As per usual, Astrid served it out. At a little after 2 PM, Ares was on duty at the box. Both adults converged at the nest at 3:20, but then Ares left. By this point the sun was flooding into the box and shading the chicks became a priority. At 5:20, Astrid was out and Ares was in. After a little while, he did some effective shading. He’s getting the hang of it. She took over at the nest at 5:33. Evidently he was out hunting – perhaps at the Utica Marsh. He returned at 6:05, with a Spotted Sandpiper (perhaps the first one of that species we’ve known Ares to catch). It was a pretty large meal, but the smallest chick saw little of it. It pays to stand in the front when you’re shorter! After the feeding, both parents were out of the nest for a while. Ares did a quick chick-check at 6:30. Six minutes later he screeched back up to the box and proceeded to do some more quality brooding. Astrid did some fancy flying around the State Building – she rose and dove and executed some quick maneuvers. She came to the box and loudly chirped at Ares upon her arrival. He gingerly stepped over the nestlings and took his leave. Now what was that all about? While Astrid hung around the box – did some brooding, some preening on the cross-perch and some digging in the corners, Ares spent a little time on the steeple perch. While he was there he coughed up a pellet. By 8:10, he had flown and we’re not sure where he went. Astrid spent much of the evening out on the cross-perch. She came back in to brood at 8:50.