Astrid was on the nest all night protecting the chicks and the eggs from unseasonably cold temps. At 4:06 AM Ares brought food to the box. Astrid grabbed it and doled out breakfast to the nestlings. At 6:38 Ares had been on a high State Building perch for some time when a merganser sped through the canyon going full tilt. He dove after it, matching its speed, but came back with empty talons. It was no surprise really. Although the Peregrine was once referred to as the “Duck Hawk”, they rarely ever catch ducks and, to our knowledge, neither Astrid or Ares has ever caught one. Interestingly, smaller ducks like teal and Hooded Mergansers could be considered “prey size” for our falcons. Perhaps Ares has something against duck flesh, as Astrid doesn’t like woodcock or cuckoos. And, as we know, Astrid pretty much hunts exclusively Pigeons.
At 7:28 AM Ares brought food to the box. We think the exchange took place on the west veranda. Astrid hopped back into the box to do a feeding. After plucking the starling in the box she fed it out to the chicks. When the meal was over she took the leftovers out and came back to brood seconds later. The next food delivery took place at 11:48. Astrid took it and conducted the feeding. At 12:49 a Turkey Vulture swooped very low through the canyon, passing between the nest building and the State Building. Astrid gave a loud cackle call and Ares flew into action. He made a couple of dives at the intruder as it soared away to the southwest. Within a minute he was back to the State Building. At 1:08, Ares arrived at the box, came inside, and asked to take a turn brooding. The parents had a loud conversation and he left. I guess the answer was a firm, no! At 2:27, we heard Ares’ distinctive screech call in the canyon. Astrid answered him. He came to the box shortly after that and the pair switched. Astrid returned at 2:46 and a reluctant Ares ceded the nest to her.
At 3:13 PM we spotted Ares feeding on a window ledge on the State Building. We expected him to come to the box with a meal, but that didn’t happen. She was out of the box at 3:30. Perhaps she took the food from him and we missed the exchange. Ares came to babysit while she was out. She returned to the box at 3:40 and they did a quick switch. Ares brought a meal to the box at 4:35. Once again, she did the feeding. So far, Ares has not been allowed to do any feedings, and his brooding time has been limited. We will see if that changes as the weather becomes milder and as the chicks grow larger. We heard Ares screech at 6:06. He was probably just letting Astrid know that he was hunting. Five minutes later he was at the box with prey. She grabbed it from him and did a feeding. He spent part of the evening on the State Building and then was up after that. Was he doing some late hunting or was he hiding from the cold winds? Astrid spent the night hunkered down on the young. It was getting colder and snowing. Hopefully, this weather will break soon! Goodnight falcons and all.
