Pigeon Control in EuropeIt is clear that European countries are taking the initiative and indeed the lead where exploring humane and effective methods of pigeon control is concerned. The United Kingdom is the exception, however, where lethal control is still used excessively by both councils and pest control companies. It comes as no surprise therefore, to find that the United Kingdom has considerably larger pigeon flocks and more deeply entrenched pigeon-related problems than most other European countries. Germany appears to be leading the way where humane and effective pigeon control systems are concerned as can be seen from the following article published in the German Newspaper Der Spiegel, June 6th 2003. War against the messengers of peace Urban pigeons have foiled all attempts to keep them away, and killing them doesn’t do any good either. Some long-suffering cities now enjoy success using the “Augsburg-model”. In special monitored pigeon lofts flocks are kept under surveillance, and birth rates are controlled by swapping their eggs for dummies. In ancient times the cooing birds were revered; as companions of the Babylonian love goddess Ishtar or the legendary Queen Semiramis who ascended to heaven clad in white feathers, the love birds conquered the whole Orient. The pigeon, winged symbol of a higher power endured the demise of legendary kingdoms and religions and survived, olive branch in beak, into Christianity. Jesus saw the Holy Spirit descend towards him in the shape of a pigeon during his baptism. The pigeon, representing the Holy Spirit was never missing from any painting at Whitsun. As the bringer of peace it was in action over centuries - most recently at the demonstrations against the Iraq war. But in the streets of modern cities the descendants of “Columba livia”, the rock dove, have lost their appeal. Ever since pigeons have taken over squares, railway stations, bridges and monuments in large numbers, busily pecking and walking about, the heavenly messengers have become an earthly burden. The adoration of old has turned to dismay and even hatred. City boroughs and house owners are up in arms because of the cost that tonnes of pigeon droppings is causing them. Moreover these “airborne rats” are suspected by worried citizens of transmitting diseases. Even the cooing, praised in the Salomon’s song as ‘beguiling’ is an increasing source of annoyance to contemporary city dwellers. Daniel Haag-Wackernagel, zoologist at Basel University reports “In almost every larger town street pigeons have become a problem.” Feral domestic pigeons who once found ideal nesting sites in the ruins of WW2 have experienced a massive population explosion due to our increasing standard of living. They find discarded foodstuffs in abundance. The grain eaters turned omnivore and have become the “most successful animal in the human environment” (Haag-Wackernagel”). “No other animal has created such strong opposing opinions than the pigeon”, says the researcher who is considered the most eminent authority on pigeons in the science community. Pigeon fans and haters are at each others throats. Those who feed the feathered vagabonds have to expect rude and aggressive reactions. Costly attempts are being undertaken to drive away the offending birds, or they are killed out-right by council officials. While lonely pensioners are undeterred in providing for their darlings, pigeon haters are calling for extermination and pigeon abuse. They even established an internet website where stomping pigeons was declared a sport. “ In many places in Germany there is a virtual pigeon war going on”, says Haag-Wackernagel. Karin Fleidl of the Munich “Abendzeitung” recently encouraged the anonymous Pigeon Poisoner who has been dropping cyanide pearls at Odeonsplatz for some time with a “keep it up”. A housewife enraged by the unwanted visitors on her balcony cries “If I get my hands on one, I’ll kill it” But pointy steel pikes, netting, electrical wires or odour sprays provided by companies named “Kill-Team” or “Clean Team”, “only move the problem elsewhere, “ says Haag-Wackernagel. Driven from one place the robust birds settle at the nearest available alternative. Natural enemies such as the kestrel, employed by some communities, cannot effectively decimate the urbanised pigeons. Around the kestrel’s nesting sites, for example Cologne cathedral, there are fewer pigeons”, reports Ulrich Lanz, falconer and falcon expert of the Bavarian federation for bird protection, “but two streets away, these scare tactics aren’t effective any more. Also the pigeons are learning quickly how to evade the birds of prey by flying closer to buildings and avoiding free air space” (Lanz). It is hoped by animal protectionists that a new pill designed to render pigeons infertile could contribute to a more humane decimation in future. But the permission procedure has not been completed yet. Until three years ago 52 of the surveyed German towns and cities were engaging in killing actions in a desperate attempt to reduce their pigeon flocks. The mayor of Mannheim, Rolf Schmidt is still pursuing a policy of breaking captured pigeon’s necks - but biologists believe that this is a pointless exercise, “to this day there is no indication that a large population can be reduced permanently and effectively by this method” (Haag-Wackernagel) . According to zoologist and pigeon breeder Thomas Bartels “all you achieve by this approach is a rejuvenation of pigeon stocks”. The impressive fertility of urban pigeons (up to twelve young per year and pair) makes up for such losses very quickly. After costly failures such as these frustrated town administrations now favour a solution, that has proved surprisingly successful first in Basel, then in Augsburg, Aachen, Tübingen and Esslingen. The solution that has been equally acceptable to citizens, animal protectionists and ornithologists and involves the relocation of pigeons in communal old-fashioned pigeon lofts, that have been specially adapted to become monitored nesting sites. Birth control is exercised by stealing the eggs and replacing them with plaster replicas on a regular basis. Young pigeons looking for nesting sites willingly enter the new pigeon houses - they can be lured in by food left on the entry perch and inside. Adult pigeons are only persuaded to use them when their old sites have been closed off. Once the eggs have been laid, the move is perfect.
The Cologne Ford factory has been protecting their production halls with the help of volunteers by employing the Augsburg model since November last year. “In the past we have spent hundreds of thousands of Euros to keep the pigeons away with netting” says production supervisor Meinrad Märklin, “but the smallest hole would render it ineffective.” In Augsburg itself under the guidance of Rudolf Reichert helpers have removed 12 000 eggs from seven specially installed pigeon lofts last year alone. The Augsburg pigeon care staff provide suitable food and clean out the pigeon lofts. The dung is taken to the rubbish dump - “enormous relief for the buildings”, says Reichert. Gradually more and more flocks were lured out of the historical town centre and settled into their new homes in the outskirts. “They spend most of their time indoors, even during the day. They are pecking, engaging in mating rituals and pairing off .” Only one pigeon slum has remained. Up to the successful relocation it cost 20 000 German Marks per year just to clean up the pigeon shit every two days from the side entrance of the ornate renaissance town hall. “The policy of putting pigeons off was more expensive than what we are investing now”, says Finance Officer Walter Graf. One pigeon loft with 150 nesting spaces, installed in dust proofed units in attics, in garrets or in loft garages requires a one off investment of 4000 euros. In the past hunters would stalk around Augsburg, but apart from making much of an impact, their shooting actions scared the citizens and left many birds injured and flightless. The city council unanimously voted to enter into a five year contract which includes the expansion and improvement of the concept. In the meantime officials from Nürnberg and Munich came to visit with the intention of introducing the scheme at home. Hamburg too is considering the installation of three pigeon lofts at the Rödlingsmarkt with its numerous pigeons. The Augsburg city council decided against banning pigeon feeding, which exists in most German cities. They merely have signs asking citizens not to put out food. A ban usually results in night time feeding action by recalcitrant pigeon fans - a feast for the rats. A complete elimination of pigeons is not intended anyway, since according to Graf “a few pigeons belong in every city centre.” Meanwhile the Aachen citizens have made their peace with the pigeons by installing seven pigeon lofts. Elisabeth Heß, who is a member of the federal pigeon working group which is part of the organisation People for Animal Rights (Menschen für Tierrechte), looks after the pigeon lofts with the help of volunteers. In Aachen too they used to “anaesthetize, capture and kill 2000 pigeons per year, without effecting any noticeable change” says senior civil servant Elke Wartmann. To get the flocks used to their new homes “takes a lot of patience” says Wartmann, who has been dealing with the pigeon plague for two decades. But the ‘care home’ solution is working. “We want to keep going.” The pigeon’s loyalty to the colony and high nesting density was being exploited by the Egyptians at the time of the Ptolemaeians. They bred thousands of pigeons in huge pigeon houses - an early form of batteries. The resulting massive dung heaps are the still basis of a blooming pigeon dung economy in Egypt, Turkey and Iran. This ‘antique’ form of “pigeon fancying” (Haag-Wackernagel) created a large number of different breeds. The fertility rates were easily increased under favourable conditions, and in the end the pigeons could produce off-spring all year round. Sailors used to take pigeons on their journeys relying on their homing instinct to find the coastlines. The Swiss Army used carrier pigeons for military purposes for decades. The “self-reproducing biological miniature flight unit with inbuilt automatic homing mechanism from any direction or distance”’ according to the official leaflet was in operation until 1995.
Carrier pigeons have particularly contributed to the over-population in towns and cities.
In the urban paradise the streets are paved with food. But the chips, waffles, or chocolate left-overs that are ingested by up to 16 000 pecking movements per day are not suitable for the birds’ digestive systems and can make them sick. In Augsburg’s last pigeon slum many dead and mummified birds pile up on a carpet of dung. “Hundreds of birds live in horrific conditions” according to Reichert, in this soon to be demolished old building, from where they are now being moved to a new location In a cloud of dust and feathers the helpers equipped with torches crawl into all corners and niches, in order to swap the newly laid eggs, while uttering calming words (“good bird, good birds”). There are many ringed special breed pigeon among these birds which are being captured a few at a time to be introduced into their new homes in the neighbouring new loft. The pigeon loft is installed in the roof of a former earl’s palais, sealed and with a lockable door. The blue-grey birds with the shimmering neck-feathers are living on 30 square meters in 165 nesting cells that are built into a shelf wall with removable boards. Bernhard and Rosemarie Grundler are looking in three times a week, feeding the birds, removing the dirt and keeping a birth control log while making sure there is no total ban on procreation. A one week old chick with yellow down is nestling into the padding. “Every now and then”, says Frau Grundler holding the pre-warmed plaster eggs in her hand, “they have to experience a breeding success”. END.
Parisians Build Home for Pigeons in Suburbs
Paris has erected its first public pigeon cote, a deluxe wooden structure in the south of the city where up to 200 birds will be able to live and feed, courtesy of the city's taxpayers.
By Philip Delves Broughton in Paris
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