LATEST NEWS

The Falcons became active just after 4:30 this morning. A half-hour later, Astrid and Ares converged at the nest box for a ledge display. This was one of two or three such displays they performed today. Since the young left the nest (and stopped returning) the pair has resumed their rendezvous at the box. The four fledglings continue to refine their flying and landing skills. The greater downtown area has become their playground and, for falcons, play means high speed steeplechases (often involving a real steeple!). Today, four of them were tearing up the skies, chasing each other, sparring, racing and pursuing their parents. At several points today, all four could be seen in the air together. All tried to land on the upper steeple perch, which they did with varying degrees of success. As usual, the young falcons seek each other out on various perches around the canyon; it wasn’t unusual to find two or even three of them together at one spot.

It seemed to be a two pigeon morning. When I arrived after seven, a couple of the kids were feeding on a pigeon on the hotel. Only an hour later Ares flew in with another pigeon. After that they all went out of view for me, Consequently, I’m not sure if they managed a midair food transfer. It’s possible that Ares brought the prey to the hotel ledge himself. However it got there, the kids were soon feeding on it.

While one of the youngsters perched on the “A” on the sign for the Adirondack Bank, his three siblings flew high and to the Northeast. When we saw them coming back, they were about 3/4 of a mile away; they were soaring high and sparring all the way back. Meanwhile Astrid and Ares were flying even higher around the greater downtown area; apparently keeping an eye on their young as well as looking for potential prey.

Today (Tuesday) featured more intermittent showers and thunderstorms, but our falcon family took it all in stride. There was much chasing and sparring again today. At one point Astrid used part of a pigeon carcass to get her brood to pursue her. Once they started, she bowed out and let the kids chase after each other. At least two pigeons were brought in as prey today, including one that may have procured by Astrid doing a stoop. At least twice today the young were seen making attempts at catching pigeons on their own. Observers stated that they still need to work on their hunting techniques.

 

Another day of off and on rain didn’t hamper the falcons very much. All four fledglings were very mobile in the canyon. Hotel Utica remains the happening new place to them and they all spend a substantial amount of the day there – playing, loafing and sleeping. In mid-morning, Astrid caught a pigeon and flew back toward the hotel with it. That was her first mistake. Two of the juveniles came after her and tried to get it. Intentional mid-air food exchanges have occuring over the past few days, but that’s not what this was. Spirit took the prey before Astrid was ready to give it up. While Spirit fed on her large ill-gotten breakfast and the other fledglings stood by, Astrid issued some full-throated alarm calls and swooped back and forth in front of the hotel ledge. This lasted for about five minutes and then Astrid returned to her perch near Ares on the west face of the ADK Bank.  There she continued to give intermittent alarm calls for the next 45 minutes. Meanwhile Spirit polished off most of the pigeon with only a little help from one of her brothers. Another food exchange was witnessed at about 7:45 PM. This time Ares brought in a starling, and again, Spirit grabbed the prey and this time flew over to the ADK Bank building where only Luna managed to push in and get a few bites out of it.

Astrid and Ares preformed a ledge display today. They actually tried to do it twice, but their first attempt was scuttled by one of the youngsters. The kid piled into the box and chased the parents out just as they were getting their display started. A little later they managed it with no interference from the fledgling gallery. This “dance” would constitute the first time they did this since the incubation period.  Rain returning in the early evening put a halt to our falcon watch. All six falcons seemed settled for the night.

 

 

 

Rain put a damper on the falcons activities in the early morning and then again in the evening, but the rest of the day was fairly action-packed. Over the past three days, the four youngsters have been showing decreasing interest in the nest-box, which is expected. They are now being fed in different locations around the downtown canyon, so they have no need for the old homestead. In the last few days they’ve adopted Hotel Utica as a favorite hangout, although the State Office Building and the Grace Church Steeple remain popular with them. There was plenty of sparring between the fledglings today, although no real hide speed antics have taken place as of yet. There was some chasing and displacing of parents from their perches. Although Ares usually is the one that gets picked on by juveniles, Spirit displaced Astrid from her perch at least once today. One of the boys went after a pigeon today, but it was a low intensity chase. Another boy went for a Chimney Swift – that time making a more serious attempt. In the early evening, Zander made an apparently rough landing on a window sill at the State Building. He kind of slid into the sill and struck his feet against the window. The bang sound from his impact was heard by Fledge Watchers on the ground. Fortunately, he showed no sign of being injured and only minutes later he was back to chasing his father off his perch on the east veranda (Remember that Peregrines strike their prey with their feet while traveling at high speed., so they can take some hard knocks) An evening thunder storm put a premature halt to most activity by the birds. For the most part the fledglings all stayed on their perches on the State Building. At the start of the storm, Astrid flew through with prey and went to the hotel to pluck it. One fledgling chased after her, but soon returned, and with no food. After having her share (during the rain showers), she brought it to two boys that were sitting out the storm on the State Building’s roof.

There was quite the deluge of rain overnight and it lasted into the early morning hours. The falcons delayed their AM activities until conditions improved at around 7:00. Following Max’s landing mishap yesterday; he remained in the same window well at the State Building for about 30 hours. While he was still resting, Ares dropped off food to him at least once and he was visited by Astrid and a sibling. While Max was laid up, his brood mates were making great strides. They engaged in chases, sparring matches and some extremely high flying. At one point, at least two of them flew so high that they were difficult to pick out against the clouds. One of the most consequential events that took place today was a successful food transfer from Ares and Luna. Luna took his prize and ate it on the roof of the ADK Bank building. Other food drops took place during the day. Once Max finally finished convalescing on the State Building, one of the first things he did was to perch on the very top of the church steeple. He was soon joined by Zander and then later by Luna. Excitement reigns in the canyon these days as the young falcons learn the tricks of their trade and tear up the skies over downtown. I urge all to come and see the spectacle in person. It’s the greatest show in town.