Hawk eye: Rufus arrives at Wimbledon from about 05:00 BST each day
By Danny Fullbrook
BBC News, Northamptonshire
A hawk used to scare pigeons away from Wimbledon has completed his 15th year on patrol at the tennis tournament.
Rufus, an American Harris hawk raised in Brigstock, Northamptonshire, has been responsible for keeping the courts pest-free.
He was joined this year by a female Harris hawk, who was found three months ago in nearby Rockingham Forest.
Rhea, who was named following an appeal on social media, was being trained to work at the event with Rufus next year.
Image source, Donna Davies
Rufus’s handlers said his favourite food to have as a treat was quail
Harris hawks fly in groups in the wild – the only raptor that does so. However, Rufus and Rhea did not work together during the tournament.
Brigstock-based Avian Environmental Consultants, which supplies “bird control services” to landmarks, shopping centres and warehouses, raised and trained Wimbledon’s chief pigeon scarer.
Handler Donna Davis told BBC Radio Northampton that “Rhea came for a couple of visits, just to get her used to the different places that we go”.
She said she would not be comfortable flying them together, unless they had done so when they were young and used to each other.
Image source, Reuters
Rufus the hawk was in the skies as Carlos Alcaraz won the Wimbledon men’s singles title
Rufus, who has been flying at Wimbledon since 2008 when he was 16 weeks old, went missing in 2012.
He was returned three days later and has been monitoring the skies every year since.
Ms Davis believed Rufus was “quite happy” with his job.
“People often comment on how relaxed and unfazed he is – that in itself says he’s not disturbed or perturbed by people being around. He’s just chilled with it all.”
Harris Hawks usually live for between 25 and 35 years and Rufus is expected to continue working “as long as he’s in good health”.
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