Every Wimbledon morning for the past 18 years, a trained hawk called Rufus has been released to fly over the grounds. His only job: to scare the pigeons before the game starts

Meet Rufus, the famous Wimbledon hawk who kept pesky pigeons off the tennis courts for 18 years. Wimbledon has plenty of familiar sights when the Championships arrive, from the packed stands on Center Court to the strawberries and cream. But long before the crowds settle in, one of the All England Club’s most experienced regulars is already at work.Rufus, Harris’ hawk, has been roaming the grounds for 18 years, although his job is somewhat different from that of the tennis stars who follow him.

Rufus starts working before the players arrive

Rufus’ job is to keep the pigeons away from the All England Club so they don’t disrupt play or cause trouble in the neighborhood.His Wimbledon career began after his handler, Donna Davis, spotted pigeons interrupting the 1999 final between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. She contacted Wimbledon and was invited to bring her previous hawk, Hamish, to the club to demonstrate what the bird of prey could do.Rufus eventually took over the role and has been doing it since 2008 when he was just 18 weeks old.His working day starts remarkably early during the championship, with Davis and Rufus arriving around 04:00 BST, when the birds he is supposed to deter become active.“We generally start at court number one to make sure that any pigeons that have gotten under the roof and into any little nooks and crannies go and fly up there to make sure there’s nothing going on,” Davis told the BBC.“Sometimes one comes along and there’s a little chase and the pigeon is out.”Rufus can spend hours flying around the site, checking rooftops and other areas where pigeons might be roosting. Davis said he can disappear for up to 12 hours during the championships.If the previous night’s rain had left water on the courthouse roof, Rufus had even been known to bathe in the puddle before returning to work.“It’s his playground, I think he almost ran away here at 18 weeks old,” Davis said.The bird also became something of a celebrity among viewers. Davis said fans regularly recognize him during the tournament and want to stop and check it out.“Everybody wants to stop and see Rufus, and it’s so beautiful,” she said.“I feel very honored to be here flying with my beautiful bird and he will be back.”Wimbledon isn’t Rufus’ only workplace either. He also performs the same role at Lord’s Cricket Ground and Westminster Abbey, making him one of the more unusual and well-travelled pest control workers in British sport.

The Wimbledon hawk even survived the kidnapping

Rufus’ long career included one incident considerably more dramatic than chasing pigeons.In 2012, the hawk was stolen overnight from Davis’ van while it was parked in the Wimbledon grounds. His disappearance sparked a frantic search for the club, the press and a rescue center in south London.Rufus was eventually found safe and made headlines the following morning The Times under the headline “Rufus is Back”.It was a remarkable level of attention for a bird whose normal duty was simply to keep the pigeons off the tennis courts.And despite the rise of technology, Rufus’ position at Wimbledon doesn’t appear to be in immediate danger.The Times reported on the possibility of using drones and AI-based detection systems to tackle pigeon problems, with some places already experimenting with technology that can identify and respond to flocks. In theory, such systems could offer a more automated and efficient way to keep birds off sports grounds.For now, however, Wimbledon has no plans to replace its feathered employee. And there is something about it. Rufus isn’t just a practical solution to the pigeon problem; he became part of the character of the tournament, with fans stopping to see him, and his daily patrols added a bit of Wimbledon tradition that a drone could hardly replicate.That familiar presence could be around for a while, too. Harris’ hawks can live into their 30s, meaning Rufus could potentially have many more Wimbledon years ahead of him. While the technology may offer efficiency, the sight of Rufus quietly making his rounds is a little harder to appreciate.