Author: Matt Perry

We are now one day outside the start of our hatch window. On Thursday, incubation will have reached 28 days. With our Peregrines, the eggs usually begin hatching at the 32-33 day mark. Of course, we will be watching the nest intently for signs that an egg has been “pipped”. Look for a small white spot to appear. This is an indication that a chick has used its egg tooth to breach the egg shell. Sometimes a pipped egg doesn’t hatch for more than a day, but often enough it hatches on the same day. When it’s chilly out like it has been today, the falcons are rarely off the eggs long enough for us to get a good look at them, but we will do our best. As I mentioned, today was quite chilly and windy in the canyon and one or the other falcons kept tight on the eggs throughout the day. No food exchanges were seen today, nor were any exiting chases or escort maneuvers witnessed. All in all it was a no-drama kind of day. The last switch of the day took place at 6:41 when Astrid took over on the eggs. Ares went over to the State Building for a while before ultimately flying off to his night perch.

Ares came screeching up to the nest box at 5:29 AM, but Astrid wasn’t prepared to leave at that time. He then flew directly over to the State Building and screeched a few times in protest. Twenty minutes later Astrid was ready to relinquish the nest to him and he eagerly took over incubating. It was chilly with some rain today and the falcons made all of their switches fast ones throughout the day. Twice in the afternoon, Ares tried to relieve Astrid at the nest, but she wouldn’t budge. Both times he walked all the way around her and then stood behind her to pressure her to go. The second time he also seemed to be trying to peek beneath her. It was as if he thought the eggs had hatched and she was just holding out on him. At 3:34 Ares was seen taking a bath in a large puddle on the ledge of the hotel. When he was done he dramatically sprung out of the water and shook his feather off. Astrid finally let Ares have a turn incubating at 6:32 PM, which meant that she had pulled a seven hour shift on the eggs – essentially the entire afternoon. It was rainier, windier and no warmer in the afternoon, which could explain why she stayed so long, but it also may be that she senses hatch time approaching and she finds it difficult to leave. We will be entering the earliest part of the hatch window on Thursday, but since our birds usually go a full 32 – 33 days of incubation before a hatch, the most likely time for a hatch will be early next week. Stay tuned!

It was a warm day in the canyon today, but not sunny so there was little discomfort for our falcons as they tended their eggs in the afternoon. The first changing of the guard took place at 5:30 AM. As usual, Ares screeched just before flying up to the box. We believe he does this to announce himself to to his mate, lest she take him for a stranger. We first thought he had a food tribute with him, but it was just a tuft of feathers presumably from his own recent meal. At 6:30, Astrid flew over from her perch on the State Building to check on the nest after she saw some movement in an adjacent office. She went back across the canyon after she satisfied herself that all was well with her nest and eggs. About 10 minutes later she took over incubation from Ares. At 10:35, both falcons were giving major alarm calls. Astrid remained on the eggs while Ares flew into action. Although the intruder was never seen, based on how fast Ares returned to his perch on the State Building and how little perturbed Astrid was, we don’t think the intruder was another Peregrine Falcon. It’s possible that another raptor came through at noon. Ares did a fair amount of screeching and then assumed his ultimate lookout perch on the roof of the State Building. Soon after that he had taken over incubation and Astrid took over as sentry. The final switch-out happened at around 4:45 PM. Astrid was in the box as a large storm appeared to be on its way into the region.  Astrid is no fan of thunderstorms. Fortunately this one was packed mostly with rain and little lightning. We don’t know where Ares was during the storm or for a few hours before it, but hopefully he found himself a nice dry perch.

It was quite cold in the falcon’s canyon this morning. Temperatures were in the low 40’s.  At 5:27 AM when Ares came to take over incubation, Astrid sent him on his way. Usually she’s eager to stretch her wings after a night of sitting, but this morning she seemed resolved to stay on the eggs. Fifteen minutes later she was ready to go and Ares took a shift. As is often her habit, the first thing Astrid does after leaving the box in the morning is to fly around the State Building a few times. It’s possible she’s checking its many ledges for stored prey. At 8:18, she came back to the box, but Ares didn’t want to leave. She managed to persuade him with her subtle charm and/or with threats. Ares was out of view for about two hours after that. We thought he may have been hunting. Later in the afternoon, following another switch at the box, it was Astrid’s turn to be missing for a while. Finally she was located on the hotel ledge, plucking away at some prey. It looked to be a recently caught pigeon. When she came back to the nest box at 6:04 PM, she had a very full crop. Ares was reluctant to leave, but ultimately did defer to his mate. At this point Astrid was in for the night. The skies were partly clear and the winds were steady. Ares was last seen flying over the State Building, possibly he was in hunting mode.