Author: Matt Perry

Utica Peregrine Falcons Update for Saturday, April 15^th, 2023

It was cool overnight with temperatures in the low fifties. Once again it warmed up quickly after daybreak and we hit the low eighties by midday. Astrid spent the entire night on the eggs as expected. Ares showed up at the nest at 5:46 AM and the pair did a quick changing of the guard. They switched again at 6:43 and Astrid resumed incubation. At 7:51 Ares came to the long perch with prey. Astrid seemed excited about it but didn’t get off the nest and Ares left with the food after waiting only a  few moments. He probably stored it somewhere. He came to his pillar perch from the State Building at 8:28. He did a lot of preening while he was there – and much of it with his eyes closed. At 9:10 he came to the box to ask for a turn on the eggs. Astrid left with no argument and he took over on the nest. At 9:54 he abruptly left the eggs and the box. Was there an intruder? If so, we saw no sign of it. Astrid came to the nest two minutes later and got onto the eggs. At 10:30 Ares returned to his pillar perch. He was gone again five minutes later.

At noon Ares was at the nest and requesting a turn incubating. This time Astrid wouldn’t leave and Ares didn’t try any extraordinary measures to oust her. At 1:10 he tried again, upon entering the nest he immediately went around behind her. He crowded her, stepped on her wingtips and then pried her off the clutch. She flew to the State Building as he got comfortable on the eggs. At 1:16 Ares started calling again. We don’t know what he saw or heard that elicited that response. He was soon off the eggs and flying into the canyon. Less than a minute later Astrid flew to the nest and resumed incubating the eggs. Ares came back and relieved her at 2:35. He then had a long session on the eggs – once again, through the hottest part of the day. Astrid came to the crossperch at 5:07 PM. She signaled that she wanted to mate and Ares complied. It is now well outside the egg laying window, so it is interesting that they are continuing to mate. Astrid got onto the clutch and, as was the case with Ares, did more brooding than shading. Even though it was still hot out, the sky had become overcast, and the sun was not flooding into the box. We saw Ares up on the State Building at 6:42 and he was up again about ten minutes later. It was likely the show was over for the night. Goodnight all.

Utica Peregrine Falcons Update for Friday, April 14^th, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oajAGcxkR3I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nsze1vpDts

It cooled down a little overnight. The low temperature was in the high forties. The temperature shot up after daybreak and was in the mid 80’s by midday. My streaming video was out between 2 AM – 4 AM, but we don’t think we missed any action. Astrid appeared to be on the eggs all night long. Ares came to the box and relieved her at 6:06. She seemed eager to go. At 6:17 Astrid was feeding on the hotel ledge. We think she took something from one of Ares’ pantry ledges. She didn’t feed for long and was on the steeple only a few minutes later. At 6:46 she came back to the nest, and they executed a quick switch. At 7:39 Ares brought prey to the long perch. Astrid accepted it on the crossperch, but we couldn’t find where she took it. At 7:52 she was back to the crossperch – probably because Deb had come into her office. However, she didn’t appear to be overly upset. A few minutes later they switched. Astrid was very nice about it. She beaked with Ares and used the gentlest persuasion. Ares was on the State Building for a while after that. At 9:05 when he flew out, Astrid vocalized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XR17KSDsyU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_u8EK3NKAw

At 10:48 Ares was on the steeple perch. At 11:14 Ares came to the box, walked around Astrid and forced her to stand. She took the cue to leave. At 12:02 PM, Ares started giving cackle-type alarm calls from the box. He flew from the nest and went to his lookout post. Meanwhile Astrid was still on the steeple. Two minutes later she flew to the box and got onto the eggs. At 12:34 it was Ares turn to be on the steeple. At around 2:40 the falcons switched and Ares came on duty for the hottest part of the day. He ended up pulling a very long shift – most of which he spent shading the eggs. We didn’t know where Astrid was off to for a while and then at 3:32 she showed up on the State Building. She remained there until 5:24. At 5:51 PM Ares jumped ship. Whether he was fed up with being in the sun or if some intruder got his dander up, we didn’t know, Astrid came back into the box and took over on the eggs only two minutes later. She seemed to be in her place for the night. Goodnight falcons

Utica Peregrine Falcons Update for Thursday, April 13^th, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zULUtFbC4KY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovIdGYp7J4c

It was warm overnight With the temperature of 53 degrees. The skies were mostly clear through the day. The temperature rose rapidly and reached 80 degrees by midday. Astrid stayed on the eggs all night long. Ares showed up on the State Office Building at around 6:00 AM. He came to the box for a quick switch five minutes later. We were not sure where Astrid went when she left the box. It is likely she withdrew some food from one of Ares’ pantry ledges and went somewhere to have breakfast. She showed up on the State Building at 6:33. At around 7:08 one of the falcons gave alarm calls. We don’t know what that was about. Astrid came to the box two minutes later and they did a quick switch. At 7:32 Ares was up on the lookout post. He was up again 10 minutes later. At 8:10 Ares brought prey to the nest. Astrid took it from him on the crossperch and flew off with it. He got onto the eggs a minute later. At 8:34 Aries began giving chirp type alarm calls. Obviously, there was a Peregrine intruder in the canyon but we could not find it with our cameras nor did we know where Astrid was. Ares came off the eggs and a few minutes later he left the box. Astrid was back to the nest and on the eggs before a minute passed. At 8:41 Ares was back up on his lookout post. He was seen darting out after something at 8:58.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ufohxYNEx8

At 10:28 AM Ares came to the nest and asked for a turn on the eggs. Astrid left without complaint as he climbed onto the eggs. Astrid initially went to the State Building but then, 20 minutes later, she was on the hotel sunning herself on a ledge. She was up at 11:13. She then spent some time on one of the lower steeple perches. Some men were up on the roof of the bank building but Astrid did not seem to be concerned about them which surprised us. She won’t be so tolerant once there are hatchlings in the nest. At 12:51 PM Astrid left the steeple and went to the State Building. She came to the nestbox at 1:49. Ares didn’t take much persuading to leave. Astrid was taking over on the eggs in time for the hottest part of the day. The temperature was well over 80 degrees. She did some shading, she also moved the clutch over a few inches towards the west wall of the box. When it got really hot she did some panting. Usually, in past years Astrid would let Ares take the hot shift. Not this time. At 5:03 Ares came to the crossperch but Astrid didn’t want to leave. He flew away again and she continued her shift. Almost an hour later, at 5:53 he was back to the crossperch. This time he came into the box and went behind Astrid. She got up off the eggs and flew out of the box. We are not sure where she went after that. Perhaps to a puddle somewhere. Meanwhile Ares took over on the clutch. During his turn he did a lot of shading. At 6:52 he began issuing warning chirps and then abruptly came off the eggs. Astrid had only just returned to the State Building. There must have been an intruder – probably a male judging by his strong reaction and Astrid’s apparent non-reaction. Ares flew over to the lookout post and then he darted off – perhaps in pursuit of the intruder. Astrid came to the box a few minutes later and got onto the eggs. Likely she was set for the night. That was probably it for action in falcon town – until tomorrow, of course. Goodnight all.

Utica Peregrine Falcons Update for Wednesday, April 12^th, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVq17mOz7_s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yen2x-cs6kY

It was warm overnight. The temperature was around 53 degrees. A few stray rain showers were around in the morning but then the skies soon cleared, and the sun was strong. By midafternoon the temperature was 76 degrees. Astrid was on the eggs all night long. Ares arrived at 6:03 and they did a quick switch. For those who wondered if Astrid would break her 10-year streak and produce a fifth egg, she did not. If she was going to do it, last night around midnight would have been the time. We were wondering if Ares would even be able to cover 5 eggs. At 7:00 Astrid was on the steeple. They switched again shortly after that, and then Astrid was back on the eggs. At 8:53 Ares came to the box and requested a turn on the eggs. Astrid did not get up and Ares decided to leave. At 10:08 Ares brought food to the box. Astrid took it on the crossperch. We are not sure where she brought the food or if she ate it. She probably did. At 10:24 she showed up on the State Building. Ares gave a chirp call which let us know that she landed. Ten minutes later she moved to the steeple and once again Ares narrated her move. At 11:04 Astrid came to the crossperch and requested a mating. Less than a minute later they mated. After that Astrid went back onto the eggs. Now that they are past the egg laying stage, mating behavior will come to an end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03q8XAKyKec

At 11:25 AM Ares had moved from the steeple to the lookout post on the roof of the State Building. At 12:44 PM he came to the nest box. He used gentle persuasion to get a turn on the eggs. They did some beaking. However, Astrid didn’t want to leave, and he did not press the matter. He left and flew over to the State Building. At 1:17 Astrid began excitedly calling. She came off the eggs and flew out into the canyon. We thought that perhaps there was an intruder active, but we subsequently learned that someone had been on the roof of the bank building. Regardless Astrid circled the State Building. Landed on a window ledge on the north face, stayed there for a little while and then came back to the nest and the eggs. She had been gone for only two minutes. Meanwhile Ares had been on the lookout post, but he left at 1:20 PM. At 2:37 Astrid shifted from incubating the eggs to shading them. The temperature was around 76 degrees, and the sun was flooding into the box. She didn’t shade for very long and opted to move the clutch closer to the west corner of the box. At 3:29 PM Ares came to the nest and they switched. He didn’t do much shading but mostly stayed on the eggs. Astrid was out of view for a while but then reappeared on the State Building at 4:56. She came to the crossperch at 6:00. Ares didn’t stir and so she took off again and went back to the State Building. At 6:41 she returned, and this time Ares was ready to go. He flew out and she settled on the clutch. The falcons were probably done for the night. Goodnight all.

Utica Peregrine Falcons Update for Tuesday, April 11^th, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jhgMMSytak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjE_0xCEohg

It was cold overnight – only in the high 30’s, but the temperature surged after daybreak and was up to 64 degrees by midday. Astrid was on the eggs all night. Ares came to a west ledge with prey at 5:09 AM. He plucked it for a while and then, twenty minutes later, he moved to the west veranda. He left the food on the ledge apparently. At 5:34 he moved to the long perch and seemed to be asking for a turn on the eggs. She wasn’t ready to go and so he left. He was back at 6:01. This time Astrid was ready to go and they did a quick switch. After being on the State Building for while Astrid moved to the steeple at 6:35. At 6:49 Astrid was back to the box. She wanted a turn on the eggs, but Ares didn’t want to leave. She got in behind him and stepped on his tail. He finally shifted, but when he left, Astrid followed him out! That was unusual. Perhaps there was an intruder? Regardless, she came right back and resumed incubating. At 7:14 Ares came to the box, but was distracted by something outside. He stayed on the lip of the box, pointing out and giving chirping calls. He flew and then came right back and repeated his earlier performance. Astrid remained on the eggs, but was on high alert. It had all the earmarks of an intruder incident, but we didn’t see it. At 7:28 Ares came to the box with [prey. Astrid took it on the crossperch and flew over to the hotel ledge. However, she didn’t stay there and moved over to the State Building. We think she brought the food with her, but couldn’t be sure. At 8:37 The falcons did another switch – Astrid took over on the nest. At 8:52 Ares was feeding on something on the hotel. He then moved to a light pole on the roof of the bank building. At 9:06 he was back on the State Building. At 9:20 he brought more food to the box. Astrid took it from him and brought it over to the hotel. This time she stayed there to eat it. Meanwhile Ares took over on the eggs. At 9:26 Astrid was done with her meal and flew to the steeple. Ares called out when she landed. At 9:59 Astrid came to the crossperch and was asking to mate. When he didn’t comply with that, she jumped into the box and requested a turn on the eggs. They did some beaking and after a minute he consented to leave. He flew over to the State Building. At 11:15 Ares was circling over the city to the west and south of the State Building. We thought that perhaps he was chasing someone off, but we only saw him. At 11:37 Ares was back to the north face of the State Building.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4crzwzljJY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge_jSt9XS_0

At 11:51 AM Ares came to the box and the falcons did a quick switch. The next changing of the guard occurred at 12:20 PM and that time Astrid took over from Ares. At 1:45 the next switch occurred, and Ares was on duty. At 2:20 he gave a cackle alarm call from the nest but didn’t leave. There was probably a passing raptor or Turkey Vulture. At 2:45 Ares was giving squeaking vocalizations as he watched Astrid flying in high circles. The wind gusts were strong and she was using them to her expertly. By this time, it was 70 degrees in Downtown. At 2:48 Astrid made a brief appearance at the nest box. She put down on the crossperch, turned around and sailed out again. She was on the State Building after that. At 3:17 she returned to the nest and that time they did a quick switch – she took over on the eggs and Ares went sailing. The falcons executed their next switch at 4:46 and it was another fast one. Ares was in and Astrid was out. By 6:20 PM a light rain was falling and it was still very windy. Astrid returned to the box at 6:32. The pair did another rapid changing of the guard – Astrid got onto her clutch and Ares flew over to perch on the State Building. He had moved up to his lookout post at one point. He flew off at 7:25 PM. Probably he went off to his night perch. Goodnight all.