Matt Perry – Page 23 – Utica Peregrine Falcons

Another Day – Another Food Gift & Dance

February 26, 2024

Ares up on the lookout post on the roof of the State Building and Astrid on a window ledge

One Food Gift & One Dance

February 25, 2024 – Another very cold morning. Like the day before, action in the downtown canyon was subdued. Ares was seen providing a food gift to Astrid on the east veranda and one ledge display occurred in the nestbox.

Very Cold Morning & One Dance and One Food Gifting Confirmed

February 24, 2024 – It was very cold on Saturday – especially in the early morning. Consequently, action in the canyon was somewhat subdued. They did conduct a lively ledge display in mid-morning and Ares later treated his mate to lunch

At dawn -Ares waits in the box for his mate to arrive

Astrid in the nestbox following a ledge display

Ares stands by while Astrid finishes her food gift

Ares back and guarding the nestbox in the afternoon

Two Matings & Astrid Has Lunch on the Hotel

February 23, 2024 – Action observed in the downtown canyon on Friday included: three mating attempts at the box area (two were successful). There was lots of nest site guarding, and one ledge display at the box. At the end of the day Astrid was seen feeding on a Pigeon on a ledge of the hotel.

Ares preens himself while waiting for Astrid to arrive

Astrid stands on the nest scrape following a ledge display in the box

Mating on the east veranda in the afternoon

Astrid has a meal on the hotel in the late afternoon

The 2024 Breeding Season is Officially Underway at the Utica Nest

Astrid and Ares have been ramping up breeding behavior in the downtown canyon over the last few weeks. They have been mating, engaging in flight displays, and performing ledge displays at the nest box. Yesterday morning (February 21st) was the first time this season we confirmed Ares gifting food to Astrid. It happened again this morning and it occurred at the nestbox.

They have been spending a lot of time in the vicinity of the box today – guarding it and keeping watch for interlopers.