Utica Peregrine Falcons Update for Sunday, April 23rd, 2023
It was cool and rainy Saturday night. The temperature was in the high 40’s. Rain showers were intermittent through the day and the high temperature was only in the 50’s. Astrid spent the night incubating as expected. Ares screeched to the nestbox at 6:08 AM (Sunday). He screeched in and she screeched out. She was eager to leave. She was back to relieve Ares sometime before 10:50 AM. Astrid was on the hotel in hunting mode after that. There was a Turkey Vulture circling over the hotel at 11:30. We believe it was attracted by the falcons’ leftover meals. We didn’t see Astrid go after it but she may have subsequently. Either that or she was chasing a Pigeon. At 12:23 PM Astrid was on the south facing steeple perch. She still appeared to be hunting. They switched at around 12:35 PM and Astrid took over on the eggs. The next changeover occurred at around 2:30 and Ares got his turn. He was on until 4:10 when Astrid returned. Astrid was on the eggs for the rest of the afternoon and evening at that point. We didn’t see Ares again that evening. Goodnight falcons.