A pair of falcons named McKeever and Judson, residing at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, have welcomed three new chicks. The first chick hatched on April 30 at around 7:30 p.m., followed by two more overnight. Mother McKeever fed her young ones for the first time around 6:30 a.m. the next day, while one egg was still awaiting hatching by Friday afternoon.
The Hamilton Falconwatch, a volunteer group overseeing the falcons at this nest since 1995, uses a webcam under the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project to monitor these birds of prey. Volunteers patrol downtown streets in shifts once the chicks start practicing flying to assist them in case they encounter difficulties.
Falconwatch has played a crucial role in successfully helping more than 75 chicks fledge, with the usual banding process taking place in late May. During banding, experts attach markers to the chicks’ legs for conservation purposes. The chicks typically 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, having raised a total of 14 chicks to date, including Charlton, Lawfield, Simcoe, and Winona. McKeever was born in Windsor, Ontario, in 2019, while Judson fledged in Buffalo, New York, in 2018, being the grandson of previous Sheraton nest residents Madame X and Surge.
Once endangered in Ontario due to factors like the pesticide DDT, peregrine falcons, known as the world’s fastest animals, are now classified as a species of special concern. Recovery strategies outlined by Ontario include community monitoring initiatives like those in Hamilton and Windsor. These efforts have proven effective, as urban peregrines have outperformed their rural counterparts, as highlighted by the Canadian Peregrine Foundation in 2024.