The above picture is from the Falcon cam perched a top the Sheraton Centre. The cool part occurs when you right click on the picture and select reload image, this will bring up the up to date photo with curent date and time. Or if you don't like to reload please visit http://www.hamiltonnature.org/hamfalcam.html and view their cam shots which reload automatically.
Last year I wrote a post about the Falcon program, you can read it here, http://theeternalkenaz.blogspot.com/2006/06/hamilton-falcon-program-has-earned-its.html
Hamilton Falconwatch is a great program run by the Hamilton Naturalists' Club. Their goal is re-introduce the once extinct Peregrine Falcon back into Ontario. Peregrine Falcons, although never common, were once widely distributed in Ontario. Their population declined drastically between the 1940s and the 1960s and they disappeared completely from Ontario in 1963. This was due to reproductive failure caused by exposure to the pesticide DDT. Concerns that the species could become extinct led to a breeding program in which 600 captive-raised young were released in Ontario from 1977 to 1996. Peregrine Falcons have adapted to life in cities, where food is plentiful and tall buildings provide high perches and nest sites. Volunteer Falcon Watches are established in many cities to keep an eye on chicks as they learn to fly above busy streets. Peregrine Falcons are also returning to formerly occupied wilderness areas in Ontario.
The adult Peregrines spent the winter of 2006-2007 roosting on signs on the CIBC and Standard Life buildings in downtown Hamilton. They have been active at the Sheraton nest site on and off. The Hamilton Community Peregrine Project confirmed that the adult female present this spring is Madame X and are working to confirm that the male is again Surge (the new male that appeared last year).
In 2006 Madame X and Surge hatched three chicks - all female: Albion, Sherman and Webster, named for local waterfalls. All three fledged safely and left the area later in the summer.
Click on the title link to read more about the organization, read previous Falcon watch updates and view an extensive liabrary of web cam galleries.
Later,
Kenaz
