Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 27, 2018 –
It was overcast and cool overnight. Downtown was shrouded in fog in the early morning hours, but that lifted before dawn. Temperatures were in the 40’s in the early morning and reached into the low fifties by early afternoon. Later on the mercury hit 60 degrees and the sun even came out of hiding.
Astrid had come back to the box at just after 6 o’clock on Thursday night. She settled down on the eggs and remained in place until Ares showed up at 5:33 AM. After that, she took a short tour of the State Building – eventually landing on a north facing ledge. The pair switched again at 8:05. Astrid took over on the eggs and Ares flew to a perch on the State Building. He stayed there until around 9:23. The next switch-out occurred at 10:34, and Ares took over on the eggs. He had some blood on his feet and he had a full crop, so we assume he just finished an early lunch before coming over. Astrid landed on the north face of the State Building, but soon was up again and checking Ares’ pantry on the building’s west face. She found something on one of the ledges. Deb could see feathers flying as she plucked the meal Ares had left for her. When she was done she took a perch on the north face again.
At 11:52, Astrid left her perch on the State Building. A group of people were walking around on the roof of the building and she wasn’t happy about it. She didn’t give any alarm calls, nor did she dive at anyone. Instead, she flew over to the nest box and stood on the cross perch. She would occasionally look over her shoulder and back towards the people on the roof. On the PTZ feed all we could see were peoples’ heads poking over the roof wall. Deb could see that they were taking pictures and apparently being tourists. Astrid also kept looking back into the nest and it was clear that Ares wasn’t ready to leave. At 12:05, she hopped into the box. Ares took the clue and vacated the eggs. His first stop was the State Building’s west face. There were still people craning their necks out over the side and apparently watching him. He left his perch and went to Hotel Utica for a short while before disappearing out of camera view. The next switch took place at 1:48, and then it was Ares turn on the eggs. After a brief shower, the clouds broke and the sun came out, drenching the box right in time for Ares’ shift. The temperature rose to 60 degrees. Astrid when over to the State Building again. At 2:55, Ares gave a cackle-type alarm call, but neither falcon took to the air. It was probably brought on by a passing raptor or raven. A half hour later, Ares gave another alarm call – this one more serious. Both falcons took off – Ares came off the eggs. Deb saw a third falcon in the air. Judging by its size, it appeared to be a female. Ares was back to the nest and on the eggs only two minutes after leaving. Astrid was obviously dealing with the intruder. She returned to the fold at 3:34, only a few minutes after leaving. The falcons switched at 5:01; Astrid took over on the nest and Ares went over to the State Building. By 5:30, he was gone and out of our camera view.
