At 2:05 PM Astrid laid the 4th and what is probably the last egg in the clutch. The interval between eggs 3 & 4 was 61 hours which is about the average for Astrid. We observed some breeding behavior during the course of the day. There were at least three matings, including one after the 4th egg was laid. In the early morning Ares provided a food gift which appeared to be a Woodcock. Astrid took it over to the hotel but did not eat very much of it. No surprise there.
Ares in the nest asking for turn incubating Mating on the crossperch
Astrid asks very nicely to take over incubation duties
Astrid spent the night tight on the nest. We didn’t see Ares until 5:21 AM, when he came to the box and the pair did a quick and orderly switch. As it happened that would be the template for the rest of the day – all quick and orderly transitions. We expect the forth and, most likely, final egg of the clutch to be laid sometime on Sunday afternoon.
Astrid laid her third egg at approximately 1:05 AM Friday morning. The interval between the 2nd egg and 3rd egg was approximately 64 hours and 23 minutes, which is considerably shorter than the interval between egg one and two, but still longer than Astrid’s average interval of 60 – 62 hours. Today we can also report that continuous incubation has begun. Although Astrid seemed to be doing it for a day or two already, Ares only began taking the job seriously today. Indeed, he stayed tight on the eggs during each one of his shifts. He even let Astrid be out of his sight a few times without stirring. There was an intruder in the afternoon – presumably another Peregrine. We think that Ares tried to chase it off but failed and called on Astrid to take over while he stayed with the eggs.
Astrid on the steepleAstrid heading to the east veranda to get food from AresAres doing a great job incubating
Continuous incubation hasn’t quite started – at least not as of Thursday Afternoon. It seemed like Astrid had begun to take full incubation seriously, but not Ares. During almost all of Ares’ turns brooding, he would stop after only a couple of minutes and hop out onto the lip of the box or onto the crossperch – either that or he would leave. At this time of year he becomes obsessed with Astrid’s every move, and when she goes out of his sight, he needs to find her. Today he had to monitor her when she went over to the hotel for a drink – of course, that would be a drink of water from one of the ledge puddles. She often drinks water when she’s expecting to lay an egg. Obviously, we are curious about when she will lay her egg and what the interval will be between the 2nd and 3rd eggs. Will it be a traditional (for her) 60 hours, or will it be like the last interval – a grand total of 71 hours. We may find out tonight.
Changing of the guard mating on the crossperchAstrid to the hotel ledge puddles for a drink
Astrid and Ares continue to be night owls. Ares brought back a Woodcock at 1:44 AM. Astrid had no interest in it and didn’t even bother to come off the eggs. However, when he returned with the same prey at 2:07 AM, she took it from him and flew off into the canyon. Later on, we noticed that she didn’t have a full crop, so I think there’s a fair likelihood she stowed it someplace or disposed of it. That way she wouldn’t have it gifted to her a third time. During the day, there were many switches at the nestbox – one taking over for the other. For the most part, they were smooth transitions. They are not engaging in continuous incubation yet. Especially when Ares is on duty, he doesn’t brood for more than a minute before going out onto the crossperch and looking to see what Astrid is doing. We expect continuous incubation to begin soon – perhaps tomorrow. We also expect the third egg to be laid tomorrow evening, that is if Astrid reverts to her traditional 60 hour interval between eggs. We shall see.
Ares on his favorite pillar perchAres requests a turn in the nest
