McKeever and Judson, the falcon pair residing at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, have welcomed three new chicks. Hamilton Falconwatch, a dedicated volunteer group overseeing the falcon nest since 1995, reported that the initial chick emerged on April 30 at approximately 7:30 p.m. Two more chicks hatched overnight, and mother McKeever fed her offspring for the first time around 6:30 a.m. the following day. By Friday afternoon, one egg was still awaiting hatching.
Operating under the name Hamilton Community Peregrine Project, Falconwatch uses a webcam to monitor these birds of prey. Volunteers are on standby to assist the chicks as they begin to fly, ensuring they do not get stranded or injured. Pat Baker, the senior monitor at Falconwatch, mentioned in a previous interview with CBC Hamilton that the group has successfully helped over 75 chicks fledge.
Typically, the group bands the chicks in late May, bringing them indoors to attach markers to their legs for identification and conservation purposes. The young falcons usually begin flying in June, marking the peak of Falconwatch’s activity.
McKeever and Judson have nested on the 18th floor of the hotel 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, with a lineage tracing back to the longstanding residents Madame X and Surge.
Peregrine falcons, known as the fastest animals in the world, were previously endangered in Ontario due to the pesticide DDT. Despite being classified as a species of special concern, efforts such as community monitoring by groups like Hamilton Falconwatch and those in Windsor have contributed to their population growth compared to rural counterparts.
Ontario’s recovery strategy for peregrine falcons emphasizes community involvement to protect these majestic birds and ensure their continued survival in urban environments.