McKeever and Judson, the pair of nesting falcons residing at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, have welcomed three new chicks. The first chick hatched on April 30 around 7:30 p.m., followed by two more overnight. Mother McKeever fed her offspring their first meal around 6:30 a.m. on Friday, but as of Friday afternoon, one egg remained unhatched.
The Hamilton Falconwatch, a volunteer group overseeing the falcon nest since 1995, utilizes a webcam to monitor these birds of prey. Once the chicks begin to fledge and practice flying, volunteers take shifts roaming downtown streets to assist if the chicks encounter any challenges.
Pat Baker, the senior monitor of Falconwatch, mentioned in March to CBC Hamilton that they have successfully aided the fledging of over 75 chicks. The group typically bands the chicks in late May, a process where identifying markers are attached to their legs for conservation purposes. The chicks usually begin flying in June, marking the peak activity period for Falconwatch.
McKeever and Judson have been nesting on the 18th floor of the hotel since 2022 and have previously raised 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. Judson is the grandson of Madame X and Surge, who nested on the Sheraton for 13 and nine years, respectively.
Peregrine falcons, known as the world’s fastest animals, were once endangered in Ontario due to the pesticide DDT. They are now classified as a species of special concern, indicating they are not currently endangered but could still be at risk. Ontario’s recovery strategy for the species emphasizes community monitoring, with groups like Hamilton’s Falconwatch and those in Windsor playing vital roles. In 2024, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation highlighted the significant contribution of these groups to the urban peregrine population’s success over their rural counterparts.
