McKeever and Judson, the falcon couple residing at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, 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 for the first time at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Friday. By Friday afternoon, one egg was still awaiting hatching.
Officially known as the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project, Falconwatch utilizes a webcam to observe the birds of prey. Volunteers take shifts downtown to assist the chicks as they start to fly and practice, ensuring they do not get stuck or fall. Falconwatch has aided in successfully fledging over 75 chicks, as shared by Falconwatch senior monitor Pat Baker in March.
Bandings of the chicks typically occur in late May, where experts attach markers to their legs for conservation identification. The birds usually begin flying in June, marking Falconwatch’s peak activity period.
McKeever and Judson have been nesting on the 18th floor of the hotel since 2022, raising a total of 14 chicks so far, including Charlton, Lawfield, Simcoe, and Winona. McKeever originated from Windsor, Ontario, born on the Ambassador Bridge in 2019, while Judson fledged in Buffalo, New York, in 2018, with lineage tracing back to Madame X and Surge.
Peregrine falcons, recognized as the fastest animals globally, were previously endangered in Ontario due to the pesticide DDT. They are now classified as a species of special concern, indicating they are not endangered but may still face risks.
Ontario’s recovery strategy for peregrine falcons includes advocating for community monitoring, such as the initiatives in Hamilton and Windsor. In 2024, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation highlighted the urban peregrine groups’ contribution to outperforming their rural counterparts.
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