Latest news with #Pigeons
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wimbledon hit by succession crisis as their iconic hawk, Rufus, fails to breed amid questions over whether he is gay
Wimbledon has seemingly been hit by a left-field crisis because their iconic hawk, named Rufus, is refusing to breed. The bird has patrolled the grounds of the All England Club for 17 years, with the sole job of keeping it pigeon free while the players take to the grass for two weeks a year. As he gets older, though, succession planning is starting to be put into place, with SW19 bosses so impressed by Rufus' work that they want his own offspring to replace him when he is unable to carry out his job any longer. That has led to a hunt for a mate for the bird, with his handler, Donna, failing to persuade Rufus to mate with another bird named Pamela. It wasn't the first attempt at attempting to persuade the bird to mate, with Rufus having no offspring to take over - at least as of yet. Questions over his sexuality have been raised, with Donna insisting that she could try and persuade him to mate again in the future. Rufus, pictured with handler Donna, patrols the skies of SW19 to keep pigeons away The 58-year-old said, via The Telegraph: 'They didn't hit it off. Pamela was quite aggressive. It wasn't love at first sight. But maybe we can try breeding with him again in the future.' Asked if he could be gay, she added: 'There's every possibility. I don't think it's that unusual [among birds].' Rufus also works at Westminster Abbey, the Old Bailey and Lord's cricket ground, and has been patrolling Wimbledon since he was just 16 weeks old. He was raised in Brigstock, Northamptonshire, and is seen scaring away pigeons - employed after humans had struggled to do so. 'Initially the whole reason we were here was because [Pete] Sampras was having to bat pigeons off the baseline,' Donna said. 'I was thinking, I'm going to have to give them a call and help them out.' 'You can't be anthropomorphic about it but I believe he sees me as one of his pack. 'I'm his food source, so of course I'm one of his pack. I do feel as though in areas where we've been out in fields and crows have bombarded me, he's come in to get the crows. 'So he is very protective of me but that's because I'm his food source, not because he loves me.'
Perth Now
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Champion Lakes artist wins PerthNow x Jacksons art prize
A Champion Lakes artist who is certainly no stranger to winning over the hearts of her peers has come out on top in the PerthNow x Jacksons 70th Anniversary art prize. Experienced watercolourist Catherine Kelley delighted judges with her celebration of friend, fellow artist and Jacksons Cannington store manager Leesa Padget, excelling in interpreting the competition's brief: what her local Jacksons store and the community means to her. The judges — Jacksons general manager Scott Boercamp, renowned WA talent Leon Pericles, sculptor Georgia Zoric, and PerthNow Local editor Arylene Westlake-Jennings — were enamoured by how Kelley captured her relationship with Padget in the mixed-media artwork. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Leesa by Catherine Kelley. Credit: Supplied 'The stand-out stories for me over the judging of this competition came from the love and appreciation of the Jacksons staff over the decades,' Zoric said. 'Leesa was the embodiment of that thread of memories. A whimsical and thoughtful piece putting the staff at the centre of the Jacksons success story.' Mr Boercamp said the submission demonstrated the appreciation Jacksons' customers have for its staff. 'Our staff are so important to us, their knowledge, their passion for art and creativity; it's what makes Jacksons unique,' he said. More than 100 guests, including prominent Perth artists and Jacksons' key suppliers and partners, watched on as Kelley was presented with a $5000 cheque for the stunning piece at an exclusive soiree at Sailing for Oranges in Fremantle on Tuesday evening. 'I met Leesa at the Armadale Art Society about 20 years ago, I would guess. We were mutual artists at the society and I was president for a little while, and you can't help but get to know like-minded people.' Kelley said of her entry. 'I was inspired by her work and what she does and her hair — it's just a nest — and I couldn't help but represent that concept. And I personally love birds, so it all fell into place.' Special mentions were also made for several submissions in the art prize, including Autumn Colours by Stef Hayward, Messages & Meanings by Dorothy Davies, and Pigeons by Giorgina Pitchen, which delighted all four judges with its whimsical take on the storefront of the flagship Jacksons in Subiaco. The PerthNow x Jacksons collaboration celebrates the brand's 70th year in business, from its beginnings as a small showroom on William Street in Perth to becoming an integral part of the WA and NT art communities. Mr Boercamp reflected on the significance of the milestone, sharing his excitement for the future. 'Reaching 70 years is an incredible achievement, and I believe our commitment to providing high-quality products, which we source locally and globally, and our team's instore expertise has been a big part of our success,' he said. 'I also want to congratulate Catherine on her well-deserved win. We hope to continue this art competition as an annual tradition to further celebrate creativity in our community.'
The Sun
30-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
Cheap 80p hack stops pigeons from sitting on your garden fence – it prevents them nesting nearby too
A PENNY-PINCHING humane hack to deter those pesky pigeons from nesting in your garden fence costs just 80p from your local supermarket. Shockingly, a spicy sauce, likely available at your local corner shop, can prevent the common garden pests from setting up shop in your backyard. 2 As the sun makes its first tentative appearances, pigeons can become a real nuisance, especially if you live in a city dominated by the feathered mob bosses. Not only can they put garden enthusiasts in a fowl mood, but they can damage plants, cause structural wear and leave droppings that attract rodents. They are also carriers of diseases, and their droppings contain bacterial fungi that can cause respiratory issues and can, in extreme cases, be fatal. However, a little-known hack can save the day, and mean you don't have to skewer the birds on spikes. Siracha, which costs just £80p in the upmarket supermarket Waitrose, deters the birds by irritating their beaks and feet, discouraging them from homing in on your garden. 'They get a burning association they associate with pain.' You could save £14.19, by replacing your Pigeon spray, which retails on Amazon for £14.99 with this simple kitchen ingredient. It also has the added bonus of being fantastic on Tacos. Wilmott Dixon Construction confirmed the efficacy of the technique and said it was recognised as a humane deterrent. After a few visits, they won't return. Technical director of AviGo, Savvas Othon, who tested the technique said: 'Feral Pigeons are intelligent and resourceful creatures, meaning they are well equipped to live and breed in seemingly inhospitable environments. 'This treatment uses that intelligence, teaching the birds where not to land and next without causing them harm.' The upside of this cheeky technique is that the watered-down hot sauce is nearly invisible to the naked eye and made from natural ingredients. This is particularly beneficial if you have small children who have a tendency to pop illicit objects in their mouths from time to time. Wilmott Dixon Construction confirmed the efficacy of the plan and said it was recognised as a humane deterrent. After the pigeons have plodded in the spicy concoction, which you can apply liberally to your garden furniture, they tuck their feet up next to their genitals and experience mild irritation. Quick learners, the birds will stop returning after getting burned a few times. A little bit like eating a chilli straight causes humans real pain but rarely does lasting damage. Safe Guard Pest Control suggests mixing the spicy concoction with vinegar to make it as stinky as possible as possible to put off the birds. As an added bonus, Mike found that the "fiery insurance policy' also discourages cats from using your garden as a portaloo. He wrote: 'We sprinkled hot chilli powder over parts of our borders where the neighbour's cats kept digging up to do their business but once it gets on their paws and they clean themselves they soon get the message to stay in their own gardens.' People also point out that, like pigeon spray, there is an element of upkeep as you have to regularly apply the concoction otherwise the birds return. Another worried that the pigeons will be traumatised. Lee W wrote: 'The people who claim this to be humane should experience what happens when you go for a pee after chopping chillies without giving your hands a good wash first.' But there is no evidence that Lee is a scientist or has had a past life as a pigeon.
