After several days of wintry weather that seemed to put a damper on breeding activity, things finally began to thaw—both meteorologically and behaviorally. On Thursday, with clearer skies and milder temperatures, Ares and Vera became more active again. We observed multiple ledge displays, a confirmed mating, and what may have been a food gifting.
Vera also spent a notable amount of time sitting in the nestbox during the late afternoon on Thursday, in a posture that evoked brooding. In fact, it seemed like she was brooding invisible eggs. Could she still lay this season? We haven’t entirely given up on the idea, even though we’re now well past the typical window for a first egg. Of course, as a yearling, Vera may not follow the usual schedule for adult Peregrine females. One thing is certain: Ares would very much appreciate having some eggs to look after.
