Last week, a female landed on the 16th, but didn't stay, not even for the night. On the eighteenth, a female (same one?) swooped by the houses and circled above and was later joined by a male (which I believed to be one of my patriarchs we call Little John). Both landed and expressed interest in the same nest box from previous years. They stayed momentarily, then left and have yet to be seen again! I've watched until 6:30 most evenings for them to return, but nothing. Being our 5th year, I expected the male to appear when he did, and to be gone most of the days with sporadic landings and sleepovers. But a complete absence is leaving me very worried!
My second patriarch, Ivan, has arrived on the 26th for two years now, so I'm expecting him any moment. Is this absentee behavior something to be expected, or could something have happened (like a hawk)?
Hoping for many to tell me that all is well, and that these little boogers do as they wish...
Robin
