News, video, and more about Utica's Peregrine Falcons
This photo shows Astrid on the steeple perch with a nice full crop!
A crop is an expandable pouch where a falcon – or other raptor – can store food. By doing this they slowly allow food into their stomach, thereby allowing for better digestion. No overstuffed Thanksgiving feeling for these birds!
They may also gulp air into the crop – we have seen both Astrid and Ares have ridiculously full crops. We believe when they are that full that they have gulped in some air as well.
Preening is very important for all birds. By preening their feathers the falcons make sure they stay in top flight condition. Birds have a uropygial gland at the base of their tail. This gland contains a waxy substance that the birds use to keep their feathers smooth and aligned.
While we wait for Astrid to lay the third egg here is a late afternoon mating
A very nice gentleman recently visited me and was nice enough to share some photos he had taken of the falcons in 2018 and 2019. I thought you all might enjoy seeing these – Thanks Paul!!
Ares was so anxious for the arrival of the first egg he didn’t even wait until Astrid was done laying it. As soon as she was done he wanted a look at it and stepped on her tail to get her to move! Poor Astrid – she just wanted a moment to catch her breath! Ares is always an anxious dad but this year he seems to be even more on edge.
Here’s another view of the arrival of egg one
