Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for June 10, 2018 –
As usual, Astrid was in close proximity to the nest box just about all night long. At some time during the 2:00 AM hour, Ares came to the box with something small. Astrid took it but then one of the nestlings snatched it before she got a chance to feed anyone. At around 4:40, Ares brought a cuckoo to the box. While he was perched on the lip of the box he began feeding it to one chick. Astrid arrived at the box and put up with Ares’ feeding for a couple of minutes and then she tried to commander it. He responded by taking his cuckoo and flying out into the canyon. Ares returned to the nest at 5:00. He had a small prey item in his talons, but when Astrid came to take it he flew off with it.
At 8:24, the pair had a conversation on the east veranda. He went to the steeple afterwards and she assumed her new favorite perch on a window ledge east of the nest box. Meanwhile in the nest, Milo resorted to feeding on scraps. There was part of a Pigeon wing in the box and he tried to tear pieces off of it. Astrid came into the box at 10:50, and all three nestlings went crazy. She didn’t have food but she proceeded to serve out the scrap of wing that Milo had been working on. She fed Milo and Petra while Angel was involved picking at some other scrap in the corner. Both adults were on the east veranda after that. A few minutes later they were both out of view. Ares was back in the canyon in a short time, but Astrid was gone for an extended period. We assumed she was hunting Pigeons.
At 12:16, Ares visited the box and was greeted by much squealing. The nestlings were famished. They hadn’t gone this long without a proper meal since they hatched. One has to wonder if Astrid and Ares were trying to get these guys to fledge earlier than normal. Holding off on feeding and flying off with food are two techniques parent birds employ to induce fledging. So far they were really only doing the former thing and not the latter. Of course, we have to trust that the parents know what they are doing. At 12:30, Ares took a brief sunbath on the hotel ledge. About fifteen minutes later he was on the steeple. The chicks were getting more and more intense inside the box. They were flapping, dashing around, grappling with scraps, biting each other and watching for parents returning with food. At one point, Milo had a crazed battle with the whitewash camera. I’m not sure who won. At 1:11, Astrid finally showed up on the steeple. She didn’t have food with her, nor did she have a full crop. The chicks announced her arrival with wild screeching calls. She flew to the box for a second and then came immediately back to the steeple. The volume of screeching went off the scale! Deb noticed that there were new tails protruding out from Ares’ pantry on the State Building. That meant there was some food available, but the falcons were choosing not to feed the young that particular food. Were they all cuckoos?
At 1:25, Astrid was seen on Hotel Utica. It appeared that she was hunting again. Ares came to the box at 2:50 and it really stirred up the nestlings in a big way. He retreated right to the steeple. We were surprised that Ares wasn’t sneaking in a cuckoo feeding during Astrid’s absence. We knew he had several squirreled away on the State Building. After another apparent failed hunting foray, Astrid returned to the State Building. At 4:22, Ares came to the nest with a cuckoo. He left it with the chicks and then flew out again. Two minutes later Ares was back to the nest with another cuckoo. Astrid met him at the east veranda. She took the cuckoo and started feeding the nestlings. Apparently her prohibition on cuckoos had been lifted – at least temporarily. The important thing was, they were back to feeding their young again after an especially long fasting period (the duration was possibly unprecedented). The feeding wasn’t polite. Angel grabbed the food from Astrid and then Astrid had to grab it back. For a while all three allowed Astrid to feed them, but then Milo stole the food and took it into the corner. When Astrid tried to take it back, he screeched at her. After Astrid left, Milo walked away from his prize and then Petra tried to get some bites out of it. Angel just looked at the scene with his head cocked.
After such a long fast, suddenly the flood gates were open. Ares brought more food to the box at 5:45. It appeared to be a hunk of either a Pigeon or Morning Dove – in other words, it wasn’t a cuckoo! Astrid took the prey and began a feeding, but then immediately got into a tug-o-war with Milo. He was pulling at it with his bill and then when that wasn’t working he employed a foot. By 6:45, both parents were out of view. Five minutes later she was at the box with more food. Petra and Angel were the first in line to be fed. Milo took a chunk and then turned away to work on it. Angel did the same thing, but then Astrid got it back and started to feed him again. When she ran out of food at 7 PM, she got screeched at and then she left for the steeple. At that point, Ares seemed settled on the Sate Building. By 9 o’clock she was back to the box and then over on the west veranda. Good night, falcons!