Author: Matt Perry

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 24, 2018 –

Tuesday began with mostly clear skies. Temperatures quickly rose and reached past 60 degrees by noon.  Later in the afternoon it was in the low seventies and after that the clouds rolled in.

Astrid came onto the eggs at about 7:45 last night. She remained on the nest all night. Ares was visible on the State Building on and off from at least 3:44 AM, until he came to the box at 5:24. Astrid called for him to relieve her just prior to his arrival. He didn’t quite come right away, but got there in his own time. After she left the box, we saw her fly back and forth in front of the west face of the State Building. She ultimately landed on a high ledge on that same side. We couldn’t tell for sure, but it looked like she was feeding on something, which would indicate that she found one of Ares’ food stashes. The falcons switched again at 6:53, and then Astrid was back incubating. Upon leaving the nest box Ares was on and off the State Building a few times; he was probably hunting. He came back to the nest at 9:23 AM, and the pair switched. Astrid initially went over to the State Building, but soon was out of view of our cameras.

At 11:22, Ares became distracted. He began chirping and he got off the eggs. We couldn’t tell for sure if there was another Peregrine chirping in the canyon, but it was possible. Astrid was nowhere to be seen. Ares flew over to the State Building and perched, but didn’t stay long. He zoomed off toward the north, came back and disappeared behind the State Building. Before five minutes had elapsed, Ares had returned to the nest and was back on the eggs. We speculated that he saw or heard something that brought him out of the box, but what? It could be that Astrid was dealing with an intruder, but we couldn’t confirm that. Astrid finally flew back into view at 11:45. Ares became highly excited and began vocalizing when he saw her, but he didn’t leave his post. She took a perch on the steeple. Evidently she was not eager to resume incubating and Ares seemed content to remain in the box.

At 1:39, Deb noticed that two people were on the roof of the State Building. The falcons often consider people on the roof of that building to be a threat. Astrid left her perch and then Ares gave some alarm calls. Soon he off the eggs and out of the box. He initially flew towards the State Building and then went to the County Building. Astrid flew over to the box and covered the eggs. In a few minutes, the people on the roof were gone. By 2:22, the sun was pouring into the box and Astrid switched from incubating the eggs to shading them. Fifteen minutes later, Ares was on the steeple. Something he saw (possibly a passing raptor) caused him to give an alarm call, but neither falcon left their posts. He was in the air about ten minutes later, but didn’t seem to be in pursuit mode. Following that, Ares was out of view for quite a while. He finally returned to the nest box at five o’clock sharp. She had handled the hottest time in the box, and now Ares was there to take over – just in time for overcast skies. He knows what he’s doing! Ares’ crop was very large and it made his throat resemble a fluffy white neckerchief – a style he seems to be able to get away with. Here we thought that maybe he had been struggling with an intruder when in actuality he was off having a five course meal somewhere.

After leaving the box, Astrid was on the State Building for a while, but then she took to the air and did some circling above the canyon just west of the State Building. There were two helicopters in the airspace further over to the west, but she didn’t seem to be bothered by them. At 5:38, she put down on a steeple perch, but she wasn’t there for very long. Ten minutes later she was flying around the State Building again. She was flying quite close to the building’s west side and we believe she stopped to nab one of Ares’ stored dinners. She took it and began to process it on a ledge on the north face of the State Building. She almost dropped it at one point and the decided to take it over to one of the Hotel’s large ledges to finish it. That was when we finally got a good look at the prey. It was a Northern Flicker. Astrid ate pretty much the entire thing and she looked like it when she was done. Her white chest/throat was bulging out nicely, and while Ares’ crop made him look like he had a neckerchief on, Astrid’s crop made her look like she had fluffy white cowl on. It was very regal. What wasn’t regal was the way she acted when she finished her meal. She did her crazy loping gate half way across the Hotel ledge and then leaned down forward onto her chest as if she was making a scrape. What she seemed to be doing was wiping her bill. By 6:34, she had come back to the State Building. She stayed for about a half hour and then flew to the steeple. At 7:22, she swooped up to the box and the pair switched. She settled on the eggs and Ares went over to the State Building. He was out of camera view soon after that. And there ends another day in falcon town.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 23, 2018 –

The morning started out cool, but much like yesterday, the sun was unobstructed and the air heated up very quickly. By early afternoon the temperature had reached 70 degrees for the first time since anyone can remember. For the first time this season, the falcons had to do a substantial amount of shading in the nest to make sure the eggs didn’t overheat.

Astrid had relieved Ares at 8:20 PM, Sunday night. She remained on the eggs until Ares came to the box just before 4 AM, Monday. He had what appeared to be a Mourning Dove in his talons. Just like the previous morning, Astrid squawked over to the cross perch, side-stepped over to him, grabbed the food and launched into the darkness. A few minutes later, she was feeding on the hotel formerly known as Hotel Utica and Ares was settled down on the eggs. At 7:19. Ares came over from the State Building and the pair did a quick changing of the guard. Astrid spent a little time on the State Building and then it was back to the box.  Only an hour had gone by since their last switch. She came onto the cross perch, and for a few minutes it almost looked like she was asking to mate, but instead she hopped into the box. She then stood alongside Ares, who was still incubating, and just stood there. It looked like she was asking him to leave, but she wasn’t being insistent about it, she simply loomed over him. He was looking back up towards her and lightly chirping. Clearly he didn’t want to leave. This went on for an unprecedented eleven minutes. Finally, she got a bit more assertive and threatened to step on his tail. At that point he got off the eggs and left. Just the day before, she left him incubating for four consecutive hours in the morning – but not today. At 10:35, Ares screeched back to the box and the pair switched again.

At 1:25, Astrid came to the box to relieve a slightly reluctant Ares. A little later he was seen on various State Building perches. By 3:10, sunlight was pouring into the nest box and Astrid was getting hot. She was seen panting and sometimes shading the eggs. She called a few times, but Ares wasn’t coming over. He had landed on the back on the State Building, but was obviously not rushing over to the box. She began shifting back and forth between incubating and shading and seemed to be struggling to find a happy compromise between the two activities. She certainly didn’t seem comfortable; she never had liked tending the “hotbox”. In the four previous seasons, (according to Astrid) hot afternoon shifts were Ares’ domain. Although in 2017, she did more hot-shifts than ever before.  After having a look at Astrid’s tongue (which was visible while she was panting), Deb said that she thought Astrid seemed thirsty. At 5:26, both falcons were at the nest box. Surprisingly enough, suddenly Astrid seemed like she didn’t want to leave. Ares was there trying to take over, but she stood behind the clutch and was not budging. They conversed a bit and Astrid gave some of the same vocalizations she gives when she wants Ares to leave, but he wasn’t leaving. Suddenly, some kind of understanding was reached and she ceded the box. Ares took up pretty much where she left off – partly shading and partly incubating. Astrid was next seen on a ledge at Hotel Utica and as Deb predicted, she was drinking from a puddle. After that she did some flying around the State Building.

At 6:47, Astrid was perched on the north face of the State Building. At 7:40, She flew off to the north – probably after prey. Ares saw her leave. He came away from the eggs and then flew off screeching. Astrid came to the nest three minutes later and settled down on the eggs. And so ended another interesting day in the canyon. Good night falcons!

 

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 22, 2018 –

After a cool start, Sunday surely lived up to its name. The whole day was sunny and even became seasonably warm by mid-morning. Like yesterday, the wind was cool and that was a factor in the afternoon, but away from the wind, temperatures in the low fifties felt almost tropical. It was a good day for migrants. Canada Geese, Turkey Vultures and a few raptor species were all on the move.

Astrid took over at the nest box at 6:45, Saturday evening. After an unexplained incident (at 9:40), which drew Astrid briefly off then nest, she spent the rest of the night tightly covering the eggs. At 4:47, Sunday morning, Ares brought a meal to the box and Astrid did her best raucous nestling impersonation while accepting it. As he took over on the nest, she flew over to the Hotel and had breakfast. After finishing, she toured the exterior of State Building (which has become a daily routine for her) before taking a perch on the building’s north face. Astrid took another turn on the nest at 6:35. Right after being relieved, Ares was out of view for a while, but returned to the State Building at 8:20. Fifteen minutes later, the pair switched again and then is was Astrid’s turn to be out of view of the cameras. Do I sense a trend here? At 9:44, Ares was chirping in the box, which usually means that he sees his mate somewhere in the canyon, but where, Ares? It was no good, he wasn’t talking. She ultimately showed up on the north face of the State Building. At around 11 o’clock, she was on the ledge of the old Hotel Utica and she was sunning herself. She was reclined and her feathers were spread. By noon, she was back on the State Building.

Ares had a marathon session on the eggs this morning and he did it largely without complaint. Astrid didn’t relieve him until 12:30! After leaving the box, he was on the State Building for quite a while. The falcons switched again at 2:49 and then we weren’t sure where Astrid ended up. We couldn’t locate her on the cams and Deb didn’t see her either. She finally showed up again on the State Building at 4:22. Astrid came to the box a few minutes before 5 PM, and took over on the eggs. The box was flooded by sunlight in the late afternoon. Historically, these are not Astrid’s favorite conditions. At close to six o’clock, Ares had showed up on the State Building and Astrid was giving her trademark donkey calls; she was signaling her desire to be relieved, but Ares was busy preening on the State Building and apparently was in no hurry to comply. Astrid half-shaded the eggs for a moment, but then quickly resumed incubating. At 6:19, Ares was out of camera view. We thought he may have successfully avoided pulling another shift on the eggs, but at 7:15, Astrid left the nest. Ares arrived two minutes later and climbed onto the eggs. His shift lasted until his mate returned at 8:20. By then dusk had fallen upon the city.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 21, 2018 –

It was a cold start to the day, with temperatures around the freezing mark. Clear skies and seasonal weather were a very pleasant surprise. Temperatures reached into the fifties by early afternoon, although the wind made it feel colder in open areas. Last night, Astrid stayed out until just after dark. She arrived at the box to relieve Ares at 8:23 PM. She remained tight on the eggs all night, but then was very impatient to go by 5:30 AM. Ares had just arrived on the State Building and he listened to her crazed donkey-like calls for fifteen minutes before coming over to switch with her. Just like yesterday morning, Astrid screeched out of the box upon Ares arrival. She then flew around the State Building for at least ten minutes. Sometimes she’d go all the way around the building and sometimes she’s only fly back and forth in front of one side. We don’t think she’s checking for stored food when she does this, but there may be an element of that. It’s possible this is Astrid way of making a territorial claim on the building. Any Peregrine within a couple of miles would be able to see her “proclamation” and would understand what it means.  At 7:26, Astrid came to the box and the falcons switched. She was on the eggs and Ares went over to the State Building. At 10:10, Ares was seen at his lookout post on the roof of the State Building. Was he hunting or did he see an intruder? A half hour later Ares made a quick stop at the nest box to check on thigs and then he was off again. He made visits to the Hotel and to the steeple in quick succession. At noon, Ares was back on the Hotel and he was feeding on a small food item. Twenty minutes later he came to the box and they switched. Astrid was visible on the State Building for a little while and then she drifted in and out of camera view for a while. She was probably hunting. They switched at 2:39, and Astrid took over incubation. Ares was next seen back on the Hotel ledge at 4:06.  Five minutes later, Astrid became very animated; she called and flew out of the box. Ares arrived about a minute later and quickly covered the eggs. Astrid flew right over to a perch on the State Building and so we don’t think she was upset about an intruder.

At 6:30 PM, the Utica Peregrine Falcon Project hosted a walking tour of the falcon’s canyon. Attendees got to see Astrid and Ares in the flesh as well see their habitat. During our walk, Astrid flew over to the box and relieved Ares at the nest (at 6:45 ish). Ares then took several perches and did some nice soaring around. He landed on a few different lamp posts on the County Building. On the State Office Building, at around 8:00, we saw Ares go from a narrow window ledge to a deep window sill, where he likely planned to spend the night. Thanks again to all that attended tonight’s walk and we hope to see you all again during our Fledgewatch in June (dates to be announced).

We thought the night’s falcon action was done, but then at 9:40 PM, Astrid heard something that made her dive out of the box. She was back and covering the eggs again in less than a minute, but it did make us wonder what would cause her to react like that.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 20, 2018 –

It was yet another wintery day in the falcon’s canyon with temperatures remaining firmly in the 30’s. Light snow fell overnight and occasionally during the day.  The wind was cold and it picked up by afternoon. Last night, Astrid had returned to the nest box at 7:48 to relieve Ares, which was on the late side. She stayed on the eggs throughout the night. At 5:40 AM, Astrid began calling for Ares to relieve her and she seemed to be getting increasingly impatient. We couldn’t locate him with our PTZ cameras. He finally came to the nest at 5:53, and she gave a loud complaining screech as she bolted out of the box. She went right to a perch on the State Building. A few minutes later she was flying around the State Building and, as she has in recent mornings, she flew back and forth in front of the north and west faces of the building. We think she’s checking for stored food when she does this. At 6:50, she was perched on a high ledge on the building’s north face. At 7:27, she came back to the box and the pair switched. Astrid settled on the eggs and Ares disappeared into the canyon. At 7:50, Astrid began vocalizing in the box and had become very agitated. Ares left the State Building and headed east. Two falcons (Ares and an intruder) then flew in from the northeast and sparred over the State Building. He had given chase and was diving at the intruder. He may have struck the other bird once or twice, but we couldn’t be sure. The intruder was larger than Ares and was an obvious female. She didn’t seem too put out by Ares’ efforts and appeared to be flying with the confidence of an experienced adult.  Have we seen this intruder before? At 7:55, Astrid left the nest and joined the fray. The two females then disappeared over the Adirondack Bank Building and Ares came back to the nest. The eggs were only uncovered for two minutes.

At 8:45, the falcons switched again and Astrid took her place on the eggs. Ares wasn’t seen again until nearly 10:30, when Theresa White noticed him feeding on the Hotel ledge. Fifteen minutes later, when he left we expected him to bring something to Astrid, but he didn’t. At 11:15, Ares came to the box and they switched out. Astrid went right over to the State Building and to one of her favorite lookout ledges. The falcons switched places again at 1:50 PM. Ares was out of view and all was quiet until 3:52, when Astrid gave an alarm call and shot out of the box – leaving the eggs.  She initially flew north over the Adirondack Bank. A minute later, one falcon (Ares?) was on the roof of the State Building and then gone. Following that there was one on an upper ledge of the same building (Astrid). Astrid returned to the box and to the eggs only three minutes after she had left. At 3:59, Ares checked in at the box for a few seconds and then flew off again. He went to the State Building and for a few moments, Astrid conversed with him from across the canyon. We weren’t clear if this incident represented the return of the earlier falcon intruder or was something else going on. At 4:54, Ares headed north. Was he off hunting?

The falcons’ switched out at 5:47. Ares took over on the eggs and Astrid spent about ten minutes soaring around the State Building. She ended up on the building’s south face. Deb saw her preening when she left downtown. Astrid didn’t relieve Ares until 8:23, which is pretty late, but she has been trending later over the last couple weeks.