The Open hawks swoop into action to scare off Portrush seagulls
Harris hawks drafted into Portrush to scare off the seagulls
Birds are seen at The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club
The Open hawks have made a flying start at Royal Portrush and a bald eagle is set to join the party, writes Craig Swan.
Tournament chiefs have drafted in the initial quartet of the birds to protect fans and keep seagulls away from the Dunluce Links.
Harris hawks are here to do the job with a handler taking each of them around the course to take to the skies if any seagulls hover and scare them off.
The four have been on the course since Sunday and falconer David Trenier told BBC News NI the hawks are making sure golf fans can enjoy their food in peace.
He said: 'They are very, very sociable, used to working with large crowds and are big enough to spook the gulls enough to move them off.'
The birds, named Aurora, Belle, Caine and Cheyenne, will rotate in shifts throughout the tournament and come from the Clear Skies Falconry Pest Control is specifically tasked with patrolling the skies over areas where food is served.
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From its rugged coastline to its charming villages, Isle of Mull is home to an abundance of wildlife, including eagles, otters, and red deer
(Image: Getty Image )
Seagulls have been known to plunge on Portrush punters trying to nab their grub and Trenier said they can have an 'aggressive' nature for food.
He continued: 'When they come in, the presence of the hawk on the course puts them off, they make sure the gulls don't come down.'
Previous Open Championships at Troon and St Andrews have similarly called on birds of prey, while Rufus, an American Harris hawk, has been scaring pigeons at Wimbledon for more than 15 years.
Trenier said: 'It is so lovely to see the public reaction, they want to talk and they want to ask questions. The kids want to have a picture taken and know more about them.'
Pilgrim, a 24-year-old bald eagle, will be at The Open this weekend and Trenier added: 'He will definitely disturb the gulls.'
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