Vera is showing strong fidelity to both Ares and the nest site, and before our eyes, she’s steadily learning the adult Peregrine ways. From ledge displays to mating and nest scraping, her progress is unmistakable. On Thursday, she and Ares worked to defend the territory from an intruding Peregrine. We caught a glimpse of the aerial sparring on our PTZ camera, though it was difficult to tell who was who during the high-speed encounter.
Like Ares, Vera is sometimes active at night. Just after midnight last night, she arrived at the nest box with a freshly caught gull. She stashed it in the corner of the east veranda, right next to the box — something we never saw Astrid do. In over a decade of observation, Astrid never stored prey so close to the nest, and she exclusively hunted pigeons. Vera, clearly, is full of surprises. Also on Thursday, while Ares perched on the east veranda with a food gift, Vera stood just inches away, repeatedly cocking her head at him — much like a curious young dog. This head-cocking behavior is typical of nestlings and recently fledged juveniles, but rarely seen in adults. Vera’s still learning, still experimenting. As for eggs — we’re nearing the end of what was traditionally Astrid’s egg-laying window. Will Vera lay eggs soon? Or at all? She has been sitting in the nest and making scrapes in the gravel, so signs point to preparation. Time will tell.
