Rufus the Harris hawk is set to resume his duties at the All England Lawn Tennis Club as Wimbledon begins. The bird has kept pigeons away from the courts for 18 years.
Rufus works year-round but gains attention during the grass-court major. He holds a security pass and appears on broadcasts. His presence intimidates pigeons that have disrupted play in the past.
The Davis family owns Rufus through Avian Environmental UK. Donna Davis recalled approaching the tournament after pigeons interrupted a Tim Henman versus Pete Sampras match. She noted the players were distracted at key moments.
Rufus partners with Flo, a Labrador retriever trained for ground security. The pair also work at other sites including Westminster Abbey. A second hawk named Rhea now shares some duties to ease Rufus's workload.
Wimbledon starts today. Rufus and Flo are scheduled to patrol in the mornings and between matches.
