{"id":2000,"date":"2025-05-31T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/?p=2000"},"modified":"2025-06-04T10:47:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:47:49","slug":"the-falconers-protectors-of-the-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/sidelines\/2025\/05\/31\/the-falconers-protectors-of-the-pitch\/","title":{"rendered":"The falconers: protectors of the pitch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sidelines explores how some of sport’s little-known avian art – falconry – helps get sports venues ready for action.<\/em><\/strong>
High above the pitch, before a single whistle blows or a seat is filled, the real warm-up act begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hawk slices through the early morning air, gliding between floodlights and stands, its presence enough to scatter the pigeons roosting in the upper tiers. To the casual fan, it\u2019s an invisible performance. But for stadium operators, it\u2019s essential maintenance, natural, efficient, and hundreds of years in the making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As stadiums battle the constant threat of pest birds, droppings, damage and disruption, some are turning to an ancient practice with modern relevance: falconry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pigeons and gulls may not seem like much of a problem, coating seats in droppings or interrupting games. For stadiums, they\u2019re expensive. Venues have tried just about everything to deal with these airborne irritants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netting and spikes are common but only prevent birds from landing in specific spots, rather than keeping them away entirely. Sound systems that play distress calls or predator noises work briefly, until birds learn to ignore them. Laser beams and ultrasonic devices are used in some venues, but their effectiveness varies. Chemical repellents, whilst an option, are messy and require regular reapplication. Drones show promise, too, but they\u2019re noisy, need skilled pilots, and can\u2019t match the natural threat posed by a real predator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the age of sustainability, falconry provides an eco-friendly and less annoying alternative to other pest control methods like chemical sprays, violent traps or shrieking sirens. These days, the most effective pest control might just come with feathers and talons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why falcons?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rather than tricking birds into leaving, falconry taps into a fear they can\u2019t ignore, a real predator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the UK\u2019s most iconic stadiums rely on birds of prey to stay pest-free. Wembley Stadium uses hawks to sweep the stands before big matches, particularly in the off-season when pigeons are more likely to nest. Twickenham employs falconers to manage gulls and crows between events, whilst Wimbledon\u2019s Harris\u2019s hawk, Rufus, has become a celebrity at the Wimbledon Championships<\/a> for patrolling Centre Court and deterring pigeons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wimbledon steward Ann Miller-McCaffrey with Rufus the Wimbledon hawk. Photo courtesy of Ann Miller-McCaffrey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Despite what the term \u2018birds of prey\u2019 might suggest, falconry in pest control isn\u2019t about hunting, but presence. As Andy Crowle, owner of Urban Wings Falconr,y explains, \u201cThe sight of a hawk gliding through the stands is often enough to send pest birds packing. Unlike fake owls or pre-recorded predator sounds, they don\u2019t get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crowle and other falconers often fly species such as Harris\u2019s Hawks, known for their intelligence, obedience and ability to stay calm in busy, human environments. Crowle says, \u201cThey\u2019re ideal for stadium work.\u201d They\u2019re trained to fly specific routes, respond to signals and stay focused even when surrounded by loud music, food smells or the occasional leftover pie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

But Harris\u2019s Hawks aren\u2019t the only birds in the sky. Karl Roberts, an experienced falconer and owner of HF Pest Control, says, \u201cWe choose our birds based on the job at hand, each species brings its own strengths.\u201d Peregrine Falcons are famed for their blistering speed, diving at over 200 mph, making them a powerful deterrent in open-air venues. Gyrfalcons, larger and more muscular, are used for their strength and ability to handle bigger prey. Meanwhile, Goshawks are known for their aggressive, fast-paced hunting style, ideal for tight spaces and quick response, according to Roberts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#09300B” custom_margin=”|-60px||-3px||” custom_padding=”3px||5px|5px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,1_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-21px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”38px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/lee-and-pep.jpeg” title_text=”lee and pep” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” alt=”Lee Jackson, right, stands with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, left, behind four trophies: the Community Shield, League CUp, Premier League, and FA Cup.” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Read More: ” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-3px|-281px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]

<\/a><\/h2>\n

Pitch perfect: the life of a football groundsman<\/a><\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Each bird plays a role in creating a natural threat that pest species instinctively recognise and avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Falconry remains a traditional practice, old school even, but it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet the falconer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Behind every stadium hawk is someone making sure that it all runs smoothly. That\u2019s where people like Karl Roberts come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roberts has been a professional falconer for over 20 years. He\u2019s worked at some of the biggest sporting venues in the UK, including Twickenham, Stamford Bridge, the Emirates and the London Stadium. His birds have patrolled everything from football pitches to racecourses, and among the standout moments in his career is working through the 2012 London Olympics, helping to keep the skies clear during one of the most high-profile events the country has ever hosted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorking at a big stadium is just like any other site. We turn up, we work out where the problems are, and that\u2019s where we operate and fly the bird. The idea behind it is that we are introducing a live predator into a pest species\u2019 area. Over time, that predator behaviour imprints onto those pest birds and they decide not to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roberts didn\u2019t always plan on flying hawks for a living. He was all set to head to university until a conversation around the kitchen table with his dad changed things. \u201cWhy go into thirty grand of debt,\u201d his dad said, \u201cwhen you could go self-employed and do what I do?\u201d His father had already built a successful career in falconry, starting out with a larger company before spotting a gap in the market and launching his own pest control business. Roberts decided to follow in his footsteps and over 20 years later, he\u2019s still helping keep our stadiums bird-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Mathew Schwartz<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Walter Bonnici<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Photo by Niko Manuelides<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>
<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI absolutely love my job, it\u2019s taken me to some really cool places. I\u2019m a big rugby fan, so working at Twickenham and with the Harlequins was a dream. I never thought my career could be so enjoyable, I love the people and birds alike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the skill it requires, there\u2019s still no formal qualification needed to own or fly a bird of prey in the UK. The only recognised industry standard is awarded by the Raptor Award, the expert body that certifies competence in bird care, handling and welfare. For something so specialised, it\u2019s surprisingly unregulated, but the training required to actually handle a bird of prey speaks for itself. Falconry still sits somewhere between ancient craft and modern job, relying more on tradition and trust than paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of it, it hasn\u2019t changed. It\u2019s one of the few sports that we still practise traditionally. The equipment may have improved, but it\u2019s still a very traditional sport. The birds go through a two-week training process and then we can fly them. It\u2019s not like human labour, once they\u2019re trained, that\u2019s it. We just feed into their natural instincts. But, obviously, learning how to handle them isn\u2019t as easy as that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Falconry is one of the oldest sports in the world, dating as far back as 2000 BC. It\u2019s used in modern society in a much different way, but it still holds modern relevance, even alongside the development of modern technology like the \u2018Rofalcon\u2019, a robotic alternative to the feathered predator. As the name suggests, it does everything a falcon would, minus the presence of a real predator. The development of such advanced technology is hard to ignore, but nature\u2019s guardians of the sky still hold up against modern alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have no preference in terms of what pest control method I use. It\u2019s the right solution for the right situation, that\u2019s the key to what we do. If we just used one bird for each situation we wouldn\u2019t get results.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, next time you\u2019re in the stands, with your overpriced drink in hand, waiting for kick-off, just take a moment to think about the unsung flying heroes who enable your beloved game to take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sidelines explores how some of sport’s little-known avian art – falconry – helps get sports venues ready for action.High above the pitch, before a single whistle blows or a seat is filled, the real warm-up act begins. A hawk slices through the early morning air, gliding between floodlights and stands, its presence enough to scatter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":242,"featured_media":2029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-groundwork"],"yoast_head":"\nThe falconers: protectors of the pitch - Sidelines<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sidelines explores how some of sport's little-known avian art - falconry - helps get sports venues ready for action.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/sidelines\/2025\/05\/31\/the-falconers-protectors-of-the-pitch\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The falconers: protectors of the pitch - 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