Rufus the Hawk facts for kids
Rufus at the 2012 Summer Olympics
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| Species | Harris's Hawk |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Occupation | Bird Scarer |
| Known for | Scaring birds away from the Wimbledon Championships |
Rufus the Hawk is a special bird, a Harris's Hawk, who has a very important job! He works for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. His main task is to keep pigeons away from the famous Wimbledon tennis courts. People at Wimbledon think of Rufus as a "very important member of the Wimbledon family." He has been doing this job for many years, taking over from another hawk named Hamish.
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Meet Rufus the Hawk!
What Does Rufus Do?
Rufus is like a security guard for the Wimbledon grounds. The All England Club hires him to fly around their large 42-acre area all year long. During the two weeks of the exciting Wimbledon Championships, Rufus visits every day. He was also on duty during the 2012 Summer Olympics when tennis was played at Wimbledon.
Pigeons especially love to land on the roof of the Centre Court. Rufus's job is to gently scare them away so they don't cause any problems. Besides Wimbledon, Rufus has also helped scare pigeons from other important places. He has worked at Westminster Abbey, hospitals, airfields, and even landfill sites. He is a very busy and helpful bird!
The Day Rufus Went Missing
Something very surprising happened to Rufus on June 28, 2012. He was stolen from the back of his owner's car! The car was parked on a private driveway at the time. This news caused a huge stir all over the world. Many news channels and papers talked about it. Rufus was even called "the world's most notable bird" and "one of Britain's best-known birds."
Luckily, Rufus was found just three days later! He was discovered on Wimbledon Common and taken to the RSPCA, which helps animals. Rufus was healthy, with only a slightly sore leg. Usually, Rufus wears a special radio transmitter. This device helps his owners track him. However, it is always removed at night for his comfort. In June 2013, it was reported that Rufus sometimes gets scared by people wearing hoods. He has also been chased by crows, but he always manages his job well.
Rufus: A Social Media Star
Rufus is not just a working hawk; he's also a bit of a celebrity! He has his own accounts on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. This means fans can follow his adventures and see what he's up to. He even has his own special security pass for Wimbledon. This pass looks just like the ones real people use, and it proudly states his job title: "Bird Scarer." Rufus is truly a unique and famous bird!
See also
- List of individual birds
