GAA recruits hawk to scare off pigeon pitch invaders

Croke Park has waged war on a flock of pigeons that have been camping out on the pitch during games.

A hawk has been brought in to try and scare away the birds. Officials have also occasionally used bird-of-prey kites.

A flock of pigeons stayed on the pitch for most of both All-Ireland football quarter-finals last weekend.

"They're probably not really pigeons either, they're more kind of vermin," said Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna.

"I mean, the wood pigeon which is a beautiful bird and very timid, these are quasi-breed really you know, to be honest.

"What we want to do is scare them away."