Problem birds? Call in Zorro

Kelly Ryan  Herald Sun

TENNIS fans want Zorro the wedge-tailed eagle let loose to scare pesky seagulls away from the Australian Open.

Zorro and another eagle, Matilda, cleared the MCG of gulls for last year's football finals and his owner says one steely eyed stare from the head of the raptor food chain would do the trick at Melbourne Park.

A huge flock of squawking seagulls interrupted Monday night's match between Lleyton Hewitt and Novak Djokovic.

"They were pooping on people's clothes and food and the health risks associated with that must be considerable," said Peter McClelland, an Australian teacher who lives in Shanghai.

"It was completely distracting for the players with ball kids having to stop and wipe the mess off the court, and it was a distraction to spectators who spent more time looking up than following the game."

"Tennis Australia hasn't approached us … but because we've got the birds on public display anyway, people just presume we are here to keep the gulls away," she said.

Photo: Fiona Hamilton Herald Sun