Ecology

Downtown Peregrine Lays First Egg

By RTH Staff
Published March 30, 2009

At 2:15 PM on Sunday, March 29, the Hamilton Naturalists' Club observed the first egg in the peregrine falcon scrape on the 23rd floor of the downtown Sheraton Hotel.

The famous falcons, Madame X and Surge, are the current matriarch and patriarch of a nest that goes back 15 years. Madame X is expected to lay an egg every other day and around three or four eggs in total.Peregrines will dig a hollow called a "scrape" on the sheltered ledge of a tall cliff (or, more frequently these days, a tall building) to lay eggs. Unlike may other birds, peregrines do not add nest materials.

Peregrines were an endangered species for several decades due to shell thinning from exposure to pesticides in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, and there is still considerable local interest in supporting this nest.

For more information and regular updates on Madame X and the eggs, visit the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project website, which features a regularly updated FalconCam.

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By highwater (registered) | Posted March 30, 2009 at 09:52:33

You can also donate, so check it out!

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By OLDCOOTE (registered) | Posted March 31, 2009 at 16:14:43

2 eggs now

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