Wimbledon hawk handler dismisses Rufus succession crisis
She said: "It was in lockdown that we thought let's see if Rufus will breed with Pamela, they didn't hit it off. We decided to try and get a different suitor for him."When asked by BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos if another potential mate had been identified, Ms Davis said: "I haven't looked, but if there are any females that are not his bloodline then yeah we could try, couldn't we?"
Rufus, 17, has patrolled the courts at Wimbledon since the 2008 championships when he was 16 weeks old.He was raised by Brigstock-based Avian Environmental Consultants, which supplies "bird control services" to landmarks, shopping centres and warehouses.The firm began working with Wimbledon in 1999 after pigeons disrupted matches at the All England Lawn Tennis Club."I was watching the final with [Pete] Sampras and he had to keep batting pigeons off the baseline and at several critical points."I decided to give them [Wimbledon] a call and help them out."
Rufus also works to scare pigeons away from other sites including Westminster Abbey, Lord's Cricket Ground and the Old Bailey, among others.Harris Hawk live for between 25-35 years and Ms Davis previously said Rufus was expected to continue working "as long as he's in good health".
Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
Vandalised pitch 'devastating', Bristol Manor Farm FC says
A football club has expressed its "shock and heartbreak" after vandals drove a car onto its pitch and set it alight. One of Bristol Manor Farm's goal posts was destroyed and a large area of grass scorched by the blaze. The perimeter of the pitch was also damaged. The club, which is based in Sea Mills, has now launched a fundraiser to pay for the damage, which it described as "a devastating act of vandalism".Avon and Somerset Police said it had been made aware of a vehicle fire at the club at 11:55 BST on Friday. It added that the fire is being treated as suspicious and enquiries are underway. The club's chairman Jon Line said Manor Farm is a club "that places great emphasis on building communities and helping people enjoy our national game". "This pointless act of vandalism was a deliberate attempt to damage the club," he added."I believe it has had the opposite effect of making everyone highly focused in building a friendly, successful and united club." In a post on its crowdfunding campaign, Bristol Manor Farm said: "Our football club was the victim of a devastating act of vandalism."What should have been a joyful home fixture day quickly became one of shock and heartbreak for our entire community."Urging people to donate, it said: "Over the past few years, we've fought hard to improve our facilities, build a youth pathway, and create something the local area can be proud of."This setback won't stop us. But we need your help." Money raised will be spent on repairs and enhanced security measures for the club's grounds, it added."Let's come together, show what Bristol football is all about and get The Farm fighting fit again," the club incident meant Bristol City Farm's match against Avonmouth earlier had to be hastily switched to their opponent's side beat Avonmouth 2-1. Avon and Somerset Police said officers have attended the scene and CCTV enquiries are underway. It urged any witnesses or anyone with information about the fire to get in contact.
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
Woad 'feeling good' as she maintains Scottish Open lead
Women's Scottish Open third-round leaderboard-17 Woad (Eng); -15 S-Y Kim (Kor), Madsen (Den); -14 H-J Kim (Kor); -12 Korda (USA); -9 Reto (SA); -8 Choi (Kor), Schmelzel (USA).Selected others: -5 Maguire (Ire); -4 Hull (Eng); -3 Hall (Eng), Harry (Wal); +1 Fuller (Eng); +2 Williams (Wal); +3 Dryburgh (Sco).Full leaderboard Lottie Woad is "feeling good" as she takes a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Women's Scottish Open as the 21-year-old looks to mark her professional debut with a second tournament former world number one amateur from Surrey maintained her cushion at the top of the leaderboard after a third-round five-under-par 67 at Dundonald who won the Irish Open, turned professional last week after missing out on £400,000 prize money having finished just a shot outside the play-off won by Grace Kim at the Evian Championship, the women's fourth major of the said "there's always nerves" but hopes her recent experiences will work to her advantage. "I am excited for the opportunity and I've got the experience from leading in Ireland and other events that I've been in," she said. "I'm just going to try and use that - I'm feeling good."A fourth birdie in her first 10 holes briefly extended Woad's advantage to three shots and, despite picking up further shots at the 14th and 17th, a bogey at the short 15th - only her second in 54 holes - left her 17 was two better than Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen and South Korean Sei Young Kim, who shot an impressive LPGA winner Hyo Joo Kim matched that to sit one back, while world number one Nelly Korda is five shots adrift on 12 under after a bogey-free last time a player won on their professional Ladies European Tour debut was Singapore's Shannon Tan at the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open."There was a lot of attention kind of leading up, so this feels a bit more free now that I've got my [LPGA] card," Woad said."I don't think you can ever expect to be leading, but I knew my game was good and I was playing well the last month or so. I definitely hoped to be contending. I'm where I wanted to be."
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
Barry-Murphy gives updates on Davies and Robertson
Brian Barry-Murphy says Alex Robertson requires stitches to repair the shin injury he sustained during Cardiff City's 2-2 pre-season draw with Notts Robertson was withdrawn midway through the second half of the contest at Meadow Lane having been on the receiving end of a strong challenge by Ollie Norburn."Alex has a really bad gash to his shin. I thought it was a poor tackle at that height, and will require stitching," Barry-Murphy Isaak Davies was also taken off during the game, although Barry-Murphy played down concerns over the Welshman's situation."Isaak felt some tightness in his hamstring, but I don't think it's anything to worry about," said the Cardiff boss."Based on his previous history, our job is to make sure we look after him, whilst obviously we want to push him to fulfil the undoubted potential that he has."The fixture with League Two Notts County was Cardiff's final match prior to their League One opener with Peterborough United in the Welsh capital next Saturday (12:30 BST).Ahead of his debut season at the club, Barry-Murphy said: "I feel very privileged and very optimistic about the season. "The energy from the supporters has been incredible, and their will to see a team play in the way that they want to see Cardiff City represented is evident - I feel as if we've understood that really quickly. "Once we finished the game today you saw the reception that we got from the supporters. "We're looking to have a squad that excites them and makes them want to come to the game on a Saturday."
