Rufus the Hawk: Wimbledon's unlikely solution to pigeon problem

The All England Club's Wimbledon tournament has long grappled with the issue of pigeons disrupting play. These birds would frequently roost on the iconic courts, pecking at the grass and causing interruptions during crucial matches. A particularly egregious example of this occurred in 1999, when a pigeon interrupted Tim Henman's serve during the men's singles semi-finals against Pete Sampras, prompting a comical scene as a ball boy attempted to chase it off. In response to this persistent problem, the All England Club employed Rufus, a hawk specifically trained to scare away pigeons. With his exceptional eyesight and intimidating presence, Rufus patrols the courts, including Centre Court, Court One, and Henman Hill, effectively preventing the birds from interfering with play. As a testament to his efficacy, Rufus has been an integral part of Wimbledon's security team for over a quarter of a century and has even earned his own security pass, with the job title of bird scarer.