Advertisement

Hamilton’s falconwatch spots first chick from peregrines living downtown

Photo of a peregrine falcon with offspring on April 26, 2024. Hamilton's Falconwatch says the first of four eggs from couple McKeever and Judson cracked open early on Friday. Hamilton Community Peregrine Project (HCPP)

The group watching over a pair of peregrine falcons living atop the Sheraton Hotel have spotted the first chick from a batch of eggs laid in mid-March.

The first offspring from McKeever and Judson poked its head out on Friday and rolled into the view of a dedicated camera hosted by the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project (HCPP).

Last month, the couple beat a 2020 record set for the earliest eggs ever seen by a pair living atop the Sheraton during a mating season.

The falcons moved onto an 18th-floor ‘scrape’ at the Sheraton in early 2022, a nesting spot for peregrines over the last 29 years.

Photo of four peregrine falcon eggs atop the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton on April 26, 2024. The first of several expected offspring from McKeever and Judson hatched this week according to Hamilton Community Peregrine Project (HCPP). Hamilton Community Peregrine Falcon Project

The HCPP says the ledge at the Sheraton has hosted close to 70 babies over almost three decades.

Story continues below advertisement

McKeever arrived in the Hamilton area in January 2022 from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor shortly after the death of Lily, the hotel ledge’s previous resident female.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Judson, McKeever’s mate, arrived in Hamilton from Buffalo at the end of the nesting season in 2021 and the pair had four chicks during that mating season.

They had another four chicks born in late April of last year named Kirkendall, Gibson, Stipley and Delta.

 

Sponsored content

AdChoices