In Wimbledon and Euston Station, Harris’s hawks such as Oscar and Rufus have protected fields and stations for years, keeping pigeons away in a natural way.
With the beginning of the tournament of Wimbledon 2025not only rackets and balls come into action: the hawks also return to the protagonists. For years, in fact, the famous tennis tournament has been defended by a “winged guardian”: RufusHarris’ hawk or a bit “(Parabuteo Unicincus) Watching on the grass fields to keep the annoying pigeons away. This year, however, the fight against these birds also extends to the railway station of London Eustonthanks to the arrival of a new colleague: Oscaranother splendid specimen of Harris’s hawk.
Wimbledon and the tradition of the anti-piccioni hawk
Who follows Wimbledon know well Rufus: for well 17 yearsthis rapacious was the silent hero who every morning, from the first light of dawn, flies the tennis courts to prevent the pigeons from disturbing the most anticipated matches of the ATP and WTA circuit. His presence is so iconic that he even boasts his own Instagram account followed by thousands of fans.
The strategy? Simple but effective: The only view of the hawk is sufficient to keep unwanted birds awaywithout any damage to them.
From Wimbledon to Euston Station: the continuous mission
On the wave of the success of WimbledonAlso Network Railthe company that manages the railway infrastructures of the United Kingdom, has decided to focus on the hawks to solve a very similar problem: the massive presence of pigeons in the Euston station. For some time these birds had turned into a real drying for travelers, nesting and dirtying the passing areas.
So it arrived Oscarwhich will perform every week patrolling flights Between tracks and docks, discouraging the pigeons to stop in the station.
An ecological and sustainable solution
“Oscar represents a totally natural and respectful solution of the environment”, declared a spokesperson for Network Rail To the British broadcaster BBC. “It does not hurt the pigeons: its only presence is sufficient to dissuade them».
Already in the past, the company had tested this method in other London stations, such as Waterloowhere in 2018 another Harris hawk – Air – had been used to solve the problem of the so -called “Piccioni thieves of sandwiches”.
The results are not long in coming
The first balance of the initiative is positive. Matt Fergusonoperational manager of the station of London Eustoncommented: “We are noticing an evident drop in the activity of the pigeons. Oscar has already become an important member of our team».
Also his trainer, the falconer Adel Letchfordconfirms the success of the initiative: “Oscar adapted to the station as a professional. It is calm, concentrated and is already making it ‘shake’ several feathers among the pigeons ».
Tennis, biodiversity and faunal control: an increasingly narrow link
The adoption of Falchi for the management of urban fauna is a clear example of sustainable coexistence between man and nature. From the fields of Wimbledon to the tracks of Euston Stationthese birds of prey show that it is possible to solve environmental problems without resorting to invasive or harmful methods.
With the beginning of the tournament of Wimbledon 2025the presence of these hawks once again draws attention to how sports, biodiversity and technology can coexistimproving the quality of life of both athletes and citizens.
