McKeever and Judson, the falcon pair residing at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, have welcomed three new chicks. The first chick emerged on April 30 around 7:30 p.m., followed by two more overnight. Mother McKeever fed her offspring their first meal at approximately 6:30 a.m. the next day. By Friday afternoon, one egg was still awaiting hatching.
Operated by the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project, Falconwatch utilizes a webcam to observe these birds of prey. Volunteers monitor the chicks closely once they start practicing flying, ensuring they do not encounter any difficulties. Since its inception, the watch has successfully assisted over 75 chicks in fledging.
The group typically bands the chicks in late May, a process where experts affix markers to their legs for identification and conservation purposes. The chicks usually begin flying in June, marking the peak activity period for Falconwatch.
McKeever and Judson have been nesting on the hotel’s 18th floor since 2022, raising a total of 14 chicks so far. McKeever was born in Windsor, Ontario, on the Ambassador Bridge in 2019, while Judson fledged in Buffalo, New York, in 2018. Peregrine falcons, recognized as the fastest animals globally, were once endangered in Ontario due to the pesticide DDT. They are now classified as a species of special concern, indicating a potential risk but not endangerment.
Ontario’s recovery strategy for the peregrine falcon species emphasizes community monitoring by organizations like Hamilton’s Falconwatch and similar groups in Windsor. In 2024, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation highlighted the significant contribution of such groups to the urban peregrine population’s growth compared to their rural counterparts.
