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Update for Thursday, May 9, 2024

Today we noted that the nestlings are being left alone in the box more frequently, although not often for intervals exceeding 20 minutes. When they are left almost invariably one of the parents keeps close watch from somewhere in the Canyon. What is interesting to us is that when compared to other seasons, it seems a little early in their development to be left on their own. However, the temperature has been relatively warm, and the chicks are now large enough to generate their own heat. We also began noticing that the nestlings have become slightly ambulatory in the box. They are all staying close together but gradually shuffling from one part of the box to the other. Mostly, they were able to stay out of the sun themselves by moving to the back of the box where there were shadows to hide in.

Update for Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Of course, we are disappointed that egg number one never hatched but, on the bright side, it is rather helpful to have an unhatched egg in the clutch. We can use it as a measuring stick to measure the growth rate of the chicks. Currently, they are growing at a fantastic rate – which is to be expected when they are provided with proper nutrition. At only one-week-old we see that the egg is about the same size as one of the chick’s heads! At one point this afternoon, we watched Ares having a bit of trouble getting on top of all of them to brood them. Indeed, they have become a formidable chick mountain. Even Astrid is having some difficulty keeping them all covered.

Update for Tuesday, May 7, 2024

In stark contrast to the last couple of nights, Ares brought multiple meals to the box between midnight and 5:00 AM. The meals kept coming during the course of the day. At one point in the early morning hours, Ares brought a nighthawk to the nest. Later in the day he brought other recognizable species into the box including a blue Jay. It was quite warm in the box in the afternoon and both parents took long turns at shading the chicks and sometimes the egg. For those readers that have been following the story of the Utica Falcons for a few years, Astrid formerly did not like to stay in the box during hot afternoons and would defer that uncomfortable task to Ares. However, in recent years she has been taking on more of the hot afternoon shading duties. At one point Astrid went over to the ledge of the hotel and had a sunbath – spreading out her feathers and lying flat on the ledge.

Update for Monday, May 6, 2024

Once again there were no overnight feedings, but the falcons more than made-up for any nutrition deficit by providing many meals during the course of the day. The afternoon got quite warm, close to 70°. Both Astrid and Ares switched on and off with chick shading duty. At one point Astrid was shading the nestlings with her body and shading the egg with her tail. They left the chicks alone three or four times in the afternoon, sometimes for as long as 15 minutes. This was the longest amount of time they’ve been alone since hatching. Ares did not spend as much time guarding the nest area, or at least he wasn’t visible to our cameras for much of the day. Still, he showed up at the nest fairly frequently to ask for a turn babysitting. He did fair amount of shading in the afternoon. At one point he seemed torn between shading the chicks and shading the egg which was all of 8 inches away. For a while he shaded the chicks and just looked at the egg. It was like he was trying to will it closer with telekinesis.

Update for Sunday, May 5, 2024

We now believe that the remaining unhatched egg was actually the first one to be laid and not the fourth as previously reported. Consequently, it’s likely that egg has passed its hatch window and is unlikely to yield a nestling. Similar to the situation a decade ago in 2014, it seems we’ll have three nestlings this season. Last night there were no overnight feedings but there were at least six mealtimes that took place during the day. As is typical, Astrid conducted all of them. Ares did try to serve out some scraps at one point when he was babysitting but he couldn’t interest anybody and taking a bite. Astrid always gives little motivational chirps while she feeds. That compels the nestlings to open their bills and beg. Although Ares has been seen to use that technique a couple of times in previous seasons. So far, he has not employed it this season. We shall see if he does.