McKeever and Judson, the falcon couple residing at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, have welcomed three new chicks. The first chick hatched on the evening of April 30, with two more following overnight. Mother McKeever fed her young for the first time on Friday morning, while one egg still awaited hatching.
Operating under the name Hamilton Community Peregrine Project, Falconwatch utilizes a webcam to observe these birds of prey. Volunteers monitor and assist the chicks once they start flying, ensuring their safety in urban surroundings. Falconwatch has aided in successfully fledging over 75 chicks, with plans to band the current chicks later in May for conservation purposes.
McKeever and Judson have been nesting on the 18th floor of the hotel since 2022, raising a total of 14 chicks, including their recent offspring Charlton, Lawfield, Simcoe, and Winona. McKeever originates from Windsor, Ontario, born on the Ambassador Bridge in 2019, while Judson fledged in Buffalo, New York, in 2018, descending from the lineage of Madame X and Surge, who nested at the Sheraton for several years.
Peregrine falcons, known as the fastest animals on Earth, were previously endangered in Ontario due to the pesticide DDT. However, they are now classified as a species of special concern, indicating potential risks but not immediate endangerment. Ontario’s recovery strategy for peregrine falcons encourages community monitoring efforts by organizations like Hamilton’s Falconwatch and similar groups in Windsor, contributing to the success of urban peregrines compared to their rural counterparts.