Cold temperatures and snow flurries kept Astrid tight on the nest throughout the night/early morning. Ares made a brief visit to the box at around 3:30 AM. We weren’t sure what that was all about. Next, he was visible on the State Building at just before 5:00. Astrid was calling for him to relieve her at the nest at 6:12, but he was in no hurry to get over there. He must have been hunting. He was making sorties from the State Building. He was flying out and then returning to high ledges for much of the morning. Astrid called to him a few times as the morning progressed but she really didn’t seem that eager to switch. Perhaps, from her perspective, having him refill the larder was a more important task. They finally switched at around 9:35 – fully 2 ½ hours later than usual for the first switch of the day.
Astrid came to the crossperch at 10:28 AM but it was just a check-in. She did another quick in and out at 11:03. She was back three minutes later and this time they had a lively conversation; after which, she flew out and went to a State Building perch. At 11:14 she was on the steeple – but not for long. She appeared to be actively hunting. The next switch took place at 12:35 PM and Astrid was back on the eggs. At 1:00 he was seen darting around the State Building. He brought prey to the box at 1:25. Astrid scrambled over the crossperch and leaned over to take it from him as he dangled it from the long perch. She managed to grab it with her bill. She took it over to the hotel to eat. She was on the State Building after that.
The next changing of the guard took place at 2:07 PM. Ares went to the State Building as Astrid hunkered down on the eggs. We heard Ares screeching at 3:30 but we weren’t sure where he was. Perhaps he flew through the canyon with food. They switched sometime around 4:00, but then changed again only a half hour later. Following that Ares went to the State Building and Astrid was tight on the eggs. Astrid called at 6:37 as if she saw Ares but we didn’t see him on the cams. She was hunkered down on the eggs for the night. Goodnight falcons and falcon folks.
