Author: Matt Perry

Ares tries to get Astrid to come to the box to get this lovely dinner!! If you look closely you can see Astrid on the State Bldg. Top left row of visible windows. Also you can catch glimpses of Ares flying around the canyon and getting close to Astrid before returning to the box. His tactics worked!!

Early this morning a very anxious Ares tried his best to lure Astrid into the nestbox with food. He flew in and out again and again, calling and looking desperate. Finally near the end of this 6 minute clip, Astrid shows up and takes the meal. Success at last!

Today was a calmer and wetter day than yesterday. There were no exciting chase scenes – thankfully. For the most part the pair kept close to vicinity of the nest box. Ares caught prey for his mate at least 3 times. Later in the afternoon Astrid and Ares performed a courtship display at the box. Here’s the video:

It was yet another active day for the Utica Peregrines. Two early morning matings at the nest box and two food exchanges took place. The pair continues to show great fidelity to the nest box. They keep close tabs on it throughout the day. It’s highly likely that interlopers in search of their own territory will be coming into the canyon in the coming weeks. It will be Astrid and Ares’ top priority to keep control over the site. No doubt there are to be some exciting times ahead!

These days Astrid and Ares are spending a great amount of time at the nest box or in view of the box. This morning they’ve already mated two and a half times at the box. I say “half” because the second attempt was aborted for some reason. Ares brought Astrid some prey soon after that last attempt so apparently there are no hard feelings.