It was relatively cold overnight with temperatures in the 20’s. Temperatures approached 30 degrees by the end of morning and then the wind picked up. In afternoon there were some intense snow squalls. Astrid surprised us by coming to the nest box at 10:05 Saturday night. She didn’t vocalize but sat out on the long perch. She was looking around a lot and seemed anxious. Possibly she had been disturbed by a raptor in the territory – perhaps an owl; or maybe someone walked too near a window where Astrid was perched for the night. Whatever was happening, she deemed it necessary to guard the nest for a little while. At 10:44 she darted off into the night and we didn’t see her again until morning. At 5:45 AM Ares appeared on the State Building. Astrid arrived on a nearby ledge nearly half an hour later. At 6:55 Ares came to the box, followed quickly by Astrid. They conducted a ledge display that was as raucous as it was brief. In less than a minute Astrid was out again. She seemed anxious as she did the previous evening, yet there was no clue as to what was disturbing her. At 7:05 Ares was back at the box and vocalizing, while she returned to the State Building. At 7:11 the pair had an aborted mating attempt on the State Building. It was quick and we nearly missed it. He came right back to the box and began chirping. He was inviting his mate to come to the box for a ledge display, but she declined. An hour later both falcons were perched on the State Building. One or both remained there for the balance of the morning and into the early afternoon. One would set out on a short foray and then return – usually to a different window ledge. The mid afternoon was marked by heavy snow squalls and high sustained winds. Ares stopped at the box at 2:56 PM. He chirped for a little while and again attempted to get Astrid to visit the box, but she was resolved not to leave her perch on the State Building. He joined her there at 3:20. Both remained on their perches during the worst of the weather. Our PTZ cameras became partially iced over and that made it difficult to see the birds for a couple of hours. By 4:38 Ares had flown from his perch and was out of view. Astrid was gone before 5:00 PM. We didn’t see either of them again for the balance of the day. Good night falcons.
I’m with you, Astrid Spring can start any time, now!!