McKeever and Judson, the pair of falcons that have made the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton their nesting spot, are now proud parents to three newly hatched chicks. Hamilton Falconwatch, a dedicated volunteer group overseeing the falcon nest since 1995, reported that the first chick emerged on April 30 at approximately 7:30 p.m. Subsequently, two more chicks hatched overnight, and mother McKeever fed her offspring their first meal at around 6:30 a.m. the following day. By Friday afternoon, one egg remained unhatched.
Operating under the moniker Hamilton Community Peregrine Project, Falconwatch employs a webcam to observe the raptors closely. Once the chicks start to fly, volunteers take to the downtown streets in shifts to assist if any of the fledglings encounter difficulties or fall. Falconwatch’s senior monitor, Pat Baker, revealed to CBC Hamilton in March that the watch has facilitated the successful fledging of over 75 chicks. The group typically bands the chicks in late May, a process involving the attachment of identifying markers to their legs for conservation purposes inside the hotel. The young falcons usually begin flying in June, marking the peak activity period for Falconwatch.
McKeever and Judson have been nesting on the hotel’s 18th floor since 2022, having raised a total of 14 chicks, including the most recent ones named Charlton, Lawfield, Simcoe, and Winona. McKeever hails from Windsor, Ontario, born 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 at the Sheraton for 13 and nine years, respectively.
Peregrine falcons, renowned as the fastest animals on Earth, were previously endangered in Ontario due to the pesticide DDT. However, they have since been classified as a species of special concern, indicating they are not endangered but could still be at risk. Ontario’s recovery strategy for the species emphasizes fostering community monitoring, as exemplified by groups in Hamilton and Windsor. In 2024, the head of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation in Toronto highlighted the vital role of such groups in boosting urban peregrine populations compared to their rural counterparts.