Though the first egg has yet to appear, Ares and Vera have been anything but idle. The pair remains highly active, engaging in frequent ledge displays, repeated matings, and regular food exchanges—clear signs of gearing up for breeding.
One particularly striking moment occurred on Wednesday when Ares began feeding bits of prey directly to Vera, as though she were a nestling. It’s unusual behavior for a mated pair, and may have been prompted by Vera’s lingering juvenile plumage, which perhaps could confuse even an experienced tiercel like Ares. Then again, maybe not. Long-time followers may recall that Ares also displayed this behavior with Astrid on rare occasions, particularly when she declined to accept food gifts in the usual fashion.
Vera continues to gain confidence and competence. She’s now noticeably more adept at mating and has just made her first solid attempt at a proper scrape in the nestbox. Until today, she’d only made a series of half-hearted pseudo-scrapes, barely shifting the gravel beneath her. This time, she really dug in—literally. Her growing investment in the nest site is unmistakable; she’s spending long hours nearby, undeterred by cold or wind, reinforcing her bond with the site. It is probably only a matter of time before the season’s first egg makes its debut. Until then, we’ll be watching closely as this pair continues to find their rhythm.
