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

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

Köln-Kalk, Deutschland - in Cologne something happens - in the best sense when it comes to the city pigeons! A new pigeon house has opened its gates on the roof of the Cologne Arcaden parking garage in Kalk, and the "Veedels-pigeben" initiative ensured that a well thought-out concept is implemented according to the Augsburg model. As reported Liebtinkoeln.com, the overseas container was installed at the end of 2024 and started in January 2025.

Before the opening, a construction fence was set up and a camera with night vision function was set up to increase safety. The pigeon house has the goal of sustainable the problem of the city pigeons. Here the feathered visitors are offered plenty of food, water and safe nesting places, which not only benefits the pigeons, but also the residents: inside in the area.

a well thought -out concept

The model is based on successful strategies that have been used in Augsburg since 2019. There, too, pigeon houses are operated in various forms, including in listed buildings and in high -frequent places. As reports augsburg.de, those responsible rely on species-appropriate feed supply and regular cleaning of the pigeon strokes. Up to five tons of pigeon droppings per year are bound and disposed of, which contributes to the relief of the city.

In the pigeon house in Cologne, a friendly team receives the animals, and the use of "lure pigeons" is supposed to attract further pigeons. Up to 50 of the feathered friends will find a safe place to stay there. The regular egg exchange, in which real eggs are replaced by dummies, is a central part of population control. Currently between 20 and 30 eggs per month are exchanged, which makes an important contribution to the containment of the pigeon population.

successful measures for population control

But what happens if the pigeons cause problems in other places and in public space? Various measures come into play here that have proven themselves in cities such as Cologne, Solingen and Wuppertal. According to [Stadttubenkolliv.org] (https://www.stadttaubenkolliv.org/population control), supervised pigeon strokes are a successful, animal welfare method to reduce pigeon population. Pigeons that breed in these blows ensure that less feces can be found on surrounding buildings.

In addition, there are alternatives such as the sterilization of male pigeons to prevent their reproduction. However, this minimally invasive method, which requires an ultrasound examination before the procedure, must be carried out carefully in order to avoid complications. The costs and the effort are in a certain relation to effectiveness, but the approach ensures that animal welfare is maintained.

By combining species -appropriate care and various control measures, the city of Cologne will succeed in sustainable the pigeon population. The team, who volunteers the pigeon house on a voluntary basis, also plays a crucial role in this project. Together they ensure that a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals is created.

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