McKeever and Judson, the falcon pair residing at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, have welcomed three new chicks. The first chick hatched on April 30 at approximately 7:30 p.m., followed by two more overnight. Mother McKeever fed her offspring for the first time around 6:30 a.m. the next day. As of Friday afternoon, one egg was still unhatched.
Operating as the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project, Falconwatch utilizes a webcam to oversee the falcons’ activities. Volunteers patrol the downtown area in shifts once the chicks start flying to assist if they become stranded or fall. Falconwatch has aided in successfully fledging over 75 chicks, with the usual banding process scheduled for late May. During banding, identifying markers are attached to the chicks’ legs for conservation purposes. The birds typically begin flying in June, which is when Falconwatch intensifies its efforts.
McKeever and Judson have been nesting on the hotel’s 18th floor since 2022, having raised a total of 14 chicks, including Charlton, Lawfield, Simcoe, and Winona. McKeever was born in Windsor, Ontario, on the Ambassador Bridge in 2019, while Judson fledged in Buffalo, New York, in 2018, descending from Sheraton’s long-term nesting falcons, Madame X and Surge.
Peregrine falcons, recognized as the world’s fastest animal, were once endangered in Ontario due to the pesticide DDT. Although they are now classified as a species of special concern, indicating potential risks, their current status is not endangered. Ontario’s recovery strategy for the species includes supporting community monitoring efforts like those in Hamilton and Windsor. In 2024, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation highlighted the positive impact of such groups, noting urban peregrines’ superior breeding success compared to their rural counterparts.
