Author: Matt Perry

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 29, 2018 –

It was rainy and overcast in the pre-dawn hours. After dawn the rain turned into snow showers which continued right through the day. Temperatures were in the high 30’s for the duration. In the downtown canyon, the snow turned to light rain by early evening.

Astrid had come onto the nest at 3:05, Saturday afternoon and she remained there through the evening and all through the night. The reason Ares skipped his turn at incubation likely had to do with the male intruder that came into the canyon last on Saturday. Regardless, Astrid served a marathon session on the eggs and wasn’t relieved until Ares came 4:13 AM on Sunday. Upon leaving she soared around the canyon a few times. At 6:10, she was on a relatively low ledge on the State Building. She flew off about 8 minutes later, only to return at 6:45. She was probably hunting.

At 7:17, she was back at the box and the pair switched. Astrid took over on the eggs and Ares flew to a ledge on the State Building. He was there for only a little while before departing on a hunting foray. His next appearance on camera was at 10:10 when he dramatically flew in from the north and took a high perch on the State Building. At 11:31, Ares came to the box and they switched. At that point it seemed Ares was happy to have a snooze on the eggs, just as Astrid seemed pleased to get some exercise. After briefly perching, she flew around the State Building several times. Her flight was more like a slow cruise through the rain. Following her tour she landed on a high ledge on the building’s north face and did some preening. At 12:29, Astrid launched from her perch and a few minutes later she was plucking a Pigeon on a ledge at Hotel Utica. She ate nearly the entire thing.

At 1:08, Astrid left the scene of her epic pig-out and flew over to the State Building. Ares chirped as she flew over, which was a bit surprising since he appeared to be sleeping. The falcons switched at 2:44 PM, and then Astrid was back on the eggs. At 3:00, Ares was on the hotel eating the scant amount of leftovers from Astrid’s big meal. He left shortly after and wasn’t relocated until Deb found him on the east face of the State Building. At 5:39, Ares brought prey to Astrid at the box. Despite her earlier meal, she took the tribute and dashed off with it. Ares took over on the nest while she flew around the State Building. Evidently she stored the food since her talons were empty when she took a perch on the north face of the building. Astrid stayed out late tonight. She didn’t relieve Ares until 8:10. He had been lightly chirping for her to come for about fifteen minutes and she finally obliged. After briefly perching on the north face of the State Building, Ares went off to his night perch. Good night, falcons.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 28, 2018 –

The early morning was seasonably cool, but the temperature rose quickly under the bright sun. By mid-morning we approached 60 degrees. Rain and wind commenced in the early afternoon. Rain was intermittent in the evening.

Astrid had come back to the nest box at 5:01 PM, yesterday and she remained in the eggs all night. Ares wasn’t seen after 5:30 PM in the evening, that is until he relieved her at 4:54 AM. At that time Astrid took no coaxing to leave. She flew into the pre-dawn canyon and we’re not sure where she went. She showed up on the north face of the State Building at 6:30. Their next switch occurred at 7:27; Astrid came back onto the eggs and Ares went over to the State Building. At just before 10 AM, we spotted him on the Hotel Utica. It’s possible that he had eaten and taken a bath. He had a crop, he looked damp and was doing a lot of preening . Forty five minutes later, Astrid was vocalizing. We think she wanted Ares to take over at the nest. We scanned around for him, but couldn’t find him with our cameras. At 11:00, we saw him on the steeple. A few minutes later he flew; we thought he was heading for the box – it’s possible Astrid believed that as well, but he flew right past. He was back to the steeple at 11:18. Twenty minutes later he was gone again. He finally screeched up to the box at 12:13, and Astrid got to come off the eggs. She initially went to the State Building, but then she was out of view for a while. She returned to the north face of the State Building at 12:38. Rain began falling in the canyon shortly after that.

Here’s a note from Deb:

We were invited to be part of the Utica Zoo’s Earth Day celebration today! I was joined by two of our Committee members/volunteers Pam Lawrence and Kristen Lazarek. We set up two computers one with a live feed of the nest box and one with a slide show of various pictures from the last 4 years.

We talked with people about peregrine falcons – explained why they are endangered and how they are making a comeback, but still need our help. We explained the importance of keeping the peregrine fledglings safe as they leave the nest, what we do at “fledge watch” and our need to have more volunteers to help!

At 1:20, Astrid was out of view. She showed up on the steeple at 3:00. They switched about five minutes later and she took her place on the eggs. Ares was on the State Building for a little while and then was out of view until 4:47. He was up and down a couple of times during the subsequent hour. During that time Astrid signaled that she wanted to be relieved (at least that’s what we thought), but he didn’t come to the box. At 5:56, he was on the State Building again. He was on a high ledge above the top row of windows, but then flew north at 6:40. Three minutes later another Peregrine Falcon flew in from the north and landed near the place where Ares had just been. At the time, we thought it was Ares.  It looked like a male of about his size, but we only had distant views of it on the PTZ camera. One minute later, the real Ares came tearing in from the north. The stranger saw him coming and baled from his perch. He flew over to the west face of the building and out of our view. Ares dove at the intruder and displaced him from his perch. He then chased his doppelganger off to the east. Ares reappeared on the State Building at 6:52. It looked like Astrid was not going to be relieved tonight, but Ares had a good excuse this time; he was on watch. He stayed in place until 7:30, and then did at least one pass around the State Building before retiring (presumably) to his night perch. Astrid was in for a marathon sitting this night, but at least her realm is secure.

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.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 26, 2018 –

Thursday was cool with light rain which persisted throughout the day. A steadier wind developed as the day progressed and the temperatures remained in the forties. The sun made a surprise appearance in the hour before sunset.

Astrid had returned to the box at 6:52, Wednesday evening. She remained in place for the whole night. At 5:38 AM on Thursday, she didn’t wait for Ares to arrive before she left the box. Without any warning, she came off the eggs and sailed off into the darkness. Ares came into the box only a minute later and got right on the eggs. Astrid initially went to a perch on the State Building, but soon was up again, flying back and forth in front of the various faces of the building. She was also circumnavigating it. We think she was checking Ares’ pantry again. She landed high on the west face, but didn’t stay long. In a minute she was up again and flying around the whole building. She flew back and forth in front of the east face a few times and put down on that side. The pair switched at 7:25. Astrid took over on the eggs and Ares went over to the State Building. At 10:00, an alarm went off at the State Office Building. Apparently, they were conducting a fire drill. Possibly as a reaction to the alarm, Ares changed to a higher ledge, but the falcons weren’t overly concerned. The pair switched again at 10:46, and then it was Ares’ turn on the eggs. At 11:40, Astrid began flying in circles and half-circles around the State Building again. She put down on the west face for a short time and then she was up again. She was seen on the east face of the State Building at 12:03 PM. A half-hour later, some squeaking calls from Ares signaled to us that she was moving again. Ares is so good about letting us know when she’s moving!

The next switch happened at 1:12 PM. She took over on the eggs and he eventually went to the State Building. This time Astrid called when she saw Ares flying, thus letting us know where he was. The next changeover was at 4:05. Ares came back onto the eggs and it was Astrid’s turn to be on the State Building. Are they getting too predictable? After not seeing Astrid for a while she showed up on the steeple at 6 PM. After a six minute preening session she came to the box and switched with Ares. Was this the last switch of the evening? That’s hard to say. It had become sunnier and warmer out by this time in the evening and so it was conceivable that Astrid would want to go out again. As it turned out she didn’t. Goodnight falcons!

Today marks 23 days of full incubation. That means we can be as little as ten days out from our first hatch of 2018. Loyal followers of this season’s log entries will recall the significant lapses in incubation that occurred in the first couple of days. The first half of the clutch was most vulnerable to the interruptions and if they don’t hatch, we won’t be too surprised. Still, we hope for a full clutch hatch like we had last year. Time will tell.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 25, 2018 –

We had a wet start to the day. It was overcast and misty. Temperatures were in the high forties, but edged into the fifties by the end of the morning. Rainfall was mostly light through the morning, but picked up a bit in the afternoon. By evening, precipitation was light again.

Astrid had come into the box at 7:22, last night, which could be considered early by recent standards. As expected she held the fort all night. At 5:30 AM, we heard Ares screeching from somewhere off camera. It sounded like he had food for her, but where? She got off the eggs and left the box. He came into the nest from stage right. Was he perched on a ledge somewhere east of the east veranda? He settled down on the eggs pretty quickly, but we weren’t sure where she ended up. At 7:15, Deb spotted Astrid on the south side of the State Building. She had a large crop, so it’s conceivable that Ares did hand food off to her earlier. They switched again at 7:17, and then Astrid was back on the eggs. The falcons switched out again at 9:05, at which time it was Ares turn on the eggs. Astrid flew out and took a perch on the State Building. At 10:17, she came back to the box, but Ares didn’t want to leave and so she dashed back to the State Building. Twenty minutes later she came back again and this time Ares was ready to cede the nest to her. Ares was next seen on the west face of the State Building.

At 12:32 PM, Ares came to the nest and relieved Astrid. Despite the rain, which was falling heavier at this time, she flew a few circles in front of the west face of the State Building. She then disappeared for a while behind the building, only to emerg again a few minutes later. All of her movements were narrated by squeaks from Ares at the nest. At 12:40, he gave a very understated alarm cackle. We weren’t sure what that was about. Astrid wasn’t in view at that time. Rain became a bit heavier by midafternoon. The falcons next switched at 2:28. Astrid did some picking at stones while she was sitting. She even got off the eggs and dug for a little while in Ares mega-scrape on the west side of the box. Why was she doing it? Don’t ask us, we just work the cameras. The next changing of the guard took place at 4:08, and then Ares was on the eggs. After leaving the nest, Astrid did some flying around the State Building. Ares chirped with every move she made. She spent some time on the north face of the building and then at 4:30, she left and was out of camera view until 6:19, when she reappeared on top a pillar above and west of the nest box. Her crop was half full and she was preening. She looked like she’d just had dinner and a bath. Five minutes later she took flight. We thought she would go to relieve Ares on the nest, but she wasn’t ready for that yet. She went over to the State Building instead. At 6:52, Astrid was finally ready to come home. She flew across the canyon and relieved Ares at the nest. We didn’t see where he went to, but it was out of our camera view. After she settled down on the eggs, she did housekeepeing – mainly moving stones around. It did seem like she was in for the night.