Described as an "important member of the Wimbledon family",[1] Rufus has been scaring away the birds for fifteen years,[2] taking over from the previous hawk, Hamish.

[3] The All England Club employ Rufus to patrol their 42-acre grounds throughout the year, with daily visits during the two weeks of Wimbledon Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

[3] He has also been employed to scare pigeons away from Westminster Abbey, various hospitals, airfields, and landfill sites.

[3][4] On 28 June 2012, Rufus was stolen from the back of his owner's car while it was parked on a private drive.

[5] Rufus has accounts on Twitter and Facebook and his own Wimbledon security photocard pass with the job title of "Bird Scarer".