The morning started out quite cold, but Astrid was eager to get off the nest. At 5:30 AM, with Ares in sight on the State Building, Astrid left the box. Without missing a beat Ares swooped in and was covering the eggs before a minute was up. At Noon, Astrid was taking one of her turns on the eggs; Ares checked in on her, walked around her in the box, but she wouldn’t leave. The same thing happened an hour later and again Astrid wouldn’t leave. Instead she sent him out. At 2:13, an intruder in the canyon (reportedly an adult Peregrine) brought the pair off the eggs for a total of four minutes. Ares returned to the box and after a few minutes Astrid was back and keeping watch from a perch on the State Building. This close to hatching, it seems Astrid loathes to be out of sight of the nest. Astrid came over to check on the nest at 3:30, but this time Ares didn’t want to leave. She let him continue incubating until finally relieving him at 5:15 PM. The eggs were seen, photographed and scrutinized today, but so far there’s no sign that any of the eggs have been pipped. Friday will mark the 29th day of continuous incubation. We should see the first pip or even the first hatch within the next 3 days sometime.
Thanks Matt!
These frosty mornings can’t be very pleasant for the falcons.
Your reports and photos Re appreciated and enjoyed by all!
Ann