New pigeon house in Cologne-Kalk: Sustainable solution against pigeon plagues!

New pigeon house in Cologne-Kalk: Sustainable solution against pigeon plagues!

Something is happening in Cologne - in the best sense of the word when it comes to the city pigeons! A new pigeon house has opened its doors on the roof of the Köln Arcaden car park in Kalk, and the “Veedels-Tauben” initiative has ensured that a well-thought-out concept based on the Augsburg model is implemented here. As verliebtinkoeln.com reports, the overseas container was installed at the end of 2024 and started in January 2025.

Before the opening, a construction fence was erected and a camera with night vision function was installed to increase security. The pigeon house aims to address the problem of city pigeons in a sustainable way. Here the feathered visitors are offered plenty of food, water and safe nesting places, which not only benefits the pigeons, but also the residents in the area.

A well thought out concept

The model is based on successful strategies that have been used in Augsburg since 2019. Pigeon houses are also operated there in various forms, including in listed buildings and in highly frequented locations. As augsburg.de reports, those responsible rely on species-appropriate food supply and regular cleaning of the pigeon lofts. Up to five tons of pigeon droppings per year are bound and disposed of, which helps reduce the burden on the city.

A friendly team welcomes the animals in the pigeon house in Cologne, and the use of “decoy pigeons” is intended to attract more pigeons. Up to 50 of the feathered friends can find a safe place to spend the night there. Regular egg swaps, in which real eggs are replaced with dummies, are a central part of population control. Currently, between 20 and 30 eggs are exchanged per month, which makes an important contribution to controlling the pigeon population.

Successful population control measures

But what happens if the pigeons cause problems in other places such as public spaces? This is where various measures come into play that have proven successful in cities such as Cologne, Solingen and Wuppertal. According to stadttaubenkollektiv.org, managed pigeon lofts are a successful, animal welfare-friendly method for reducing the pigeon population. Pigeons that breed in these lofts ensure that there is less droppings on surrounding buildings.

Additionally, there are alternatives such as sterilizing male pigeons to prevent them from reproducing. However, this minimally invasive method, which requires an ultrasound scan before the procedure, must be carried out carefully to avoid complications. The costs and effort are proportional to the effectiveness, but the approach ensures that animal welfare is maintained.

Through the combination of species-appropriate care and various control measures, the city of Cologne will be able to sustainably regulate the pigeon population. The team that volunteers to look after the pigeon house also plays a crucial role in this project. Together they ensure that a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals is created.

The question of what the next steps are and whether the pigeon house will bring the desired result remains to be seen. The fact is that with the new project, the residents in Kalk at least have a good hand when it comes to the topics of pigeon control and urban design. We can only hope that other cities also follow this innovative approach.