Overnight was relatively cool, but since our nestlings have become so feathered out, it’s not really an issue anymore. They are completely capable of keeping themselves warm even without huddling together. Temperatures quickly reached into the 70’s today. Ares came to the box with food at 3:45 AM, and Astrid plunged in to do the feeding. Ares brought the second meal of the morning at 4:54, and again, Astrid handled the feeding. As it turned out this would be the last orderly feeding for the morning. Astrid spent some time this morning on the verandas on either side of the nest box. We think this could be her way of showing the youngsters (when they are ready) that they can use the verandas as exercise areas. We originally installed the verandas for precisely that reason. At 8:28 AM, Ares brought in a small chunk of prey. Astrid took it from him and started to feed, but the ornery chicks had other ideas. Luna snatched the food away from Astrid and then proceeded to have a tug-of-war with Max. Max successfully wrested it away and then feasted in the corner while his siblings watched on. At 9:28 AM, Ares brought in another small chunk. As per usual, Astrid took it from him and tried to begin a feeding. This time Max stole the prey directly from Astrid. He began to eat it, but soon lost interest and left it in the corner. Spirit picked up the leftovers, brought it more towards the center of the box and began to feed on it along with Luna. Spirit relinquished it to Luna only to come back later and try to steal the whole thing back. Luna wasn’t cooperating with her plan. Eventually Spirit prevailed, but by then the meal was just reduced to scraps. At 11:03, we saw Astrid displace Ares from his perch on the church steeple. This is generally thought to be her “request” for him to go out hunting. The next feeding took place at 3:44, when Ares brought prey to the box. Astrid did the feeding and this time the nestlings were on their best behavior. In other words, there was no stealing or grabbing. Well, not much anyhow. The 5:00 PM feeding was much the same as the previous one. Today, like last several days, the young falcons have been doing a lot of wing flapping and wing stretching. Feather preening has also become a much more prominent part of their daily routine. Astrid and Ares seem to be keeping a closer eye on the immediate vicinity around the nest site today, perhaps because fledging time is getting closer. As I’m writing this at 8:30 PM, Astrid just returned to the steeple after taking a drink from a puddle on the hotel ledge. Our official Fledge Watch is set to begin next week – probably on Wednesday (we will soon get more specific about the start date). Please consider helping us safeguard these wonderful birds as they make their inaugural flights in the downtown canyon.
They are getting so BIG!!! I can’t take it!!! Their Snowman look is almost gone! 🙁