Utica Peregrine Falcons Update for Monday, May 1st, 2023
The night was overcast, rainy and cool with temperatures in the mid to high 40s. During the day there were a few breaks of sun, but the skies were mostly overcast with infrequent rain showers. The temperature barely breeched 50 degrees. Astrid was on the eggs all night long. Ares appeared on the State Building at 5:47 AM. He came to the nest to switch ten minutes later. At 6:25 Ares called out a few times – most likely reacting to something Astrid was doing. She was on the west face of the State Building at 8:00. Fifteen minutes later she arrived at the nest for a changeover. At 9:48 AM Astrid started calling on the nest. Ares was on the north face of the State Building at the time, so it didn’t seem like she was reacting to anything he was doing. That is, unless she was asking him to bring her lunch. At 10:49 Ares was at the nest asking for a turn on the eggs. They did a lot of vocalizing, but Astrid wouldn’t vacate and Ares left without argument. They switched at 12:21 PM and Ares got his turn. At 2:21 Astrid was back and there was a relatively fast changing of the guard. At 2:41 Astrid was calling on the nest. We’re not sure what that was about. Ares didn’t move from his perch on the State Building so she probably wasn’t reacting to an intruder. At 3:16 something was afoot. Astrid abruptly left the nest – perhaps she was pursuing an intruder or maybe Ares left prey for her somewhere. That possibility was supported by the fact that Ares gave a few long calls only moments before she flew. Ares was at the box and on the eggs less than a minute later. Astrid was on the north face of the State Building for the next couple of hours. She came to the box at 5:15 PM and they did their last switch of the day. It was raining in the canyon once again. Goodnight all.
Little Falls Falcon Update
Things seem to be going well for the Little Falls Falcons. As expected, the pair (Anna & Erie) have been sharing incubation duties during the day and Anna sits at night. They have now entered their hatch window. There may be news of a first hatch within the week!! Stay tuned