Author: Matt Perry

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.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 19, 2018 –

It was cold and snowy today (where have I heard that before?). A few squalls were quite intense, but at least snow wasn’t sticking to the ground. Temperatures were in the thirties for most of the day kand topped out at around 40 degrees. After Astrid enjoyed her evening excursion last night, she returned and relieved Ares at 8:03 PM on Wednesday. As is typical, she remained on the eggs all night long. Ares landed on a ledge on the north face of the State Building at around 5:08 AM, but didn’t come to the box until 6:18. Astrid had been calling to him quite a bit, but he wasn’t persuaded to come over. To be fair, she may have wanted him to get breakfast for her, and he appeared to be trying to do just that. He flew off a couple times and ended up on different perches, although he wasn’t seen with prey. When they did switch, it was quick and afterwards Astrid spent a lot of time apparently checking out Ares’ pantry. She first flew back and forth in front of the west face and then she did the same thing on the north face She finally ended up going around the entire building just short of ten times. If she wasn’t looking for stored food, what was she doing? At 7:30, Deb saw Astrid perched on the south face of the State Building. It looked like she had a crop, so she must have eaten. At 8:57. The falcons switched out again and Astrid assumed her incubation duty. Upon leaving, Ares may have gone directly into hunting mode. He was on the County building and then a few minutes later he was on the State Building.

Deb Spent some time this morning visiting Ms. Cherie Grant’s 5^th grade class at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. Here’s what Deb had to say about her experience:

Ms. Grant’s students have been following the activities of Astrid, Ares and their offspring for the past 3 years. This year they have been keeping a daily log of the activity that they see each day and making notes about various interesting facts concerning the peregrines. I spoke to them about peregrines in general and shared some pictures and videos from previous nesting years. Additionally we did an exercise to show how pesticides bio-magnify up the food chain. The students asked very good and thoughtful questions – I could tell they have spent a lot of time studying peregrines. It was the best day of my week!! I truly enjoy seeing young people interested in nature!

By 11:20, the weather changed and downtown appeared to be in the grips of a blizzard. Snow was falling densely and the wind had picked up. The PTZ 1 cam was obscured and we couldn’t tell if Ares was still on the State Building or not. Thankfully, the squall didn’t last long and visibility returned to the canyon. Ares had held to his perch on the State Building. The falcons executed another rapid switch at noon and it was Ares turn at the box again. Occasionally he would squeak like he was seeing her, but we weren’t sure where she was for a while. She ultimately showed up on the State Building. The next switch took place at 1:32, which was only an hour and one half after the previous change. Ares appeared on the State Building soon after the switch. At 3:36, Deb saw him apparently playing on the wind. And yes, the wind had picked up. He made a brief stop at the box at 4:22, but flew out again. They switched out for real at 4:51 PM. After that Astrid spent some time on the State Building. By 5:09, she was seen flying around the same building, which seemed to be a favorite pastime for her today. When Deb left the office at 5:33, Astrid was on the East face of the building, preening. She moved to the west side by 6:05, and by 6:30, she was seen flying around the State Building. After that her motions (or non-motions) were invisible to us, that is until she returned to the nest at 7:48. She moved Ares off the nest with impatient monkey-like calls upon her arrival. Good night falcons!

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 18, 2018 –

Wednesday started out chilly and with snow flurries. There was even some snow accumulation in the hills. Wind was constant but not too strong by modern standards. Temperatures remained mostly in the thirties, but breached 40, by mid-afternoon. Astrid came onto the nest at 4:40, Tuesday night. She remained through the night, which is typical. Ares finally relieved her at 6:00 AM on Wednesday. He had showed up on the State Building only a few minutes earlier. Upon being relieved, Astrid flew over to the State Building and was seen flying around the west and north faces of the building. Most likely she was searching Ares’ pantry and looking for stored food. While she was doing this, Ares watched her and made lots of chirping vocalizations. At 8:47, Astrid came to the box and resumed incubating. She seemed to be licking her beak a bit, which is something we don’t often see her do. A little while later she was moving stones around. There’s not much to do when you’re incubating. Meanwhile Ares was coming and going from the State Building – presumably he was hunting. The falcons switched again at 12:27. It was another quick changeover, which is appropriate giving the cold temperatures. Astrid took a relatively low perch on the State Building and then got into some heavy preening. After that she did some nice flybys in the canyon before landed back on the State Building.

At 2:37, the falcons did another one of their rapid switch-outs. Astrid took over on the eggs and Ares took the opportunity to do some fancy flying on the wind. For the next two hours he was in and out of camera view several times. Astrid was getting a little cagey after 5 PM, and seemed to want Ares to take another shift, but he wasn’t taking the cues. At 5:30, when Ares flew through again, Astrid really began chirping a lot. Still, he wasn’t heeding her calls. We thought she was set to pull another marathon sitting, but then at 6:37, she just left the nest. Ares arrived two minutes later and covered the eggs. Astrid then stayed out of view until 8:03, when she made a brief check in at the box. Five minutes later, she came and took over incubation. We are not sure why she left earlier. We don’t think it was because of an intruder. She may have just been hungry. She was not seen eating today and, as far as we know, Ares didn’t bring her anything. Regardless, she was settled on the eggs and Ares went off to a night perch at some undisclosed location.

Utica Peregrine Falcon Update for April 17, 2018 –

Tuesday was yet another chilly day with snow flurries in the morning. Temperatures remained in the thirties. Astrid had taken over on the eggs on Monday afternoon at 3:02, and she remained in place until Ares relieved her at 5:41 AM on Tuesday. In other words it was another long shift for her. Ares had been on the State Building for at least 40 minutes before he came over to the box. She didn’t seem anxious to leave; at least, she wasn’t calling for him to come and switch. After leaving the box (at 5:41), Astrid perched on the State Building. She also did some flying, but kept returning to the building’s north face. At 8:35, the falcons switched out very quietly. Ares left the box and landed on the exact same ledge where Astrid had been prior to flying to the nest. An hour later, at 9:27, Ares brought a small prey item to the box. Astrid took it and flew over to the State Building with it. As Ares settled on the eggs, it was obvious he had somewhat of a crop, so he must have eaten as well. At 10:38, Astrid came back and the pair switched out again. Ares went over to the State Building as Astrid got comfortable on the eggs. At 12:05, Ares was flying high above the canyon and was probably on a hunting mission. Astrid called a few times from the box as he was gaining altitude. At just before one o’clock, Astrid began calling. Ares flew in and landed on the roof of the State Building – right on his favorite lookout corner.

At 12:52, Astrid got a little excited in the box. Ares was again at his lookout post on the State Building. He was gone again eight minutes later. Ares flew to the box at 1:47, but it was just an in and out box check. Five minutes later, Ares came back; this time they switched and he took over on the eggs. After being off cam for a few hours, Astrid was seen again at 4:11. She was perched on the State Building. At 4:40, they did another quick switch and Astrid took her place on the eggs. Ares was quite active after he left the box. He was seen flying towards the north and gaining altitude. At 5:21 PM, Astrid started calling. That’s often what she does when she sees Ares flying. He landed on a high ledge on the State Building and remained there for well over an hour. He had tucked in on the high ledge and we thought that perhaps he may have chosen it for his night perch, but then, just before 7:00, he flew. He was seen flying over the County building at 7:20, and then it was back to his rooftop look out. He could’ve been hunting or on watch for an intruder. We thought, probably the former. He just left as I’m writing this update at 7:32 PM. Off to bed now? Maybe.