For sustainable and humane pigeon management in Lucerne

Petition richtet sich an: City Council and the Grand City Council of Lucerne

Lucerne needs a sustainable solution that benefits people, animals and the city alike.

OUR DEMANDS
We call on the City of Lucerne to introduce a sustainable and humane system of feral pigeon management based on the Augsburg Model. The aim is to regulate the pigeon population humanely and over the long term while sustainably reducing soiling and conflicts in public and private spaces.

Learn more on our petition website.

FOR READERS IN A HURRY
The current situation affects residents, property owners, local businesses and the pigeons themselves. Soiling, high cleaning costs and animal suffering are not unavoidable features of urban life, but the result of an inadequate pigeon management system.
Feral pigeons are the product of human domestication and selective breeding; as a result, they have a strong reproductive drive. Since they were released or escaped from human care, they have been forced to live as homeless animals on our streets.
Managed pigeon lofts based on the Augsburg Model have provided a tried-and-tested solution for many years, bringing together animal welfare, urban cleanliness and economic efficiency.

BACKGROUND
Feral pigeons are descendants of domestic and racing pigeons. Adapted to life alongside humans over thousands of years, they retain characteristics that make independent life in cities difficult: they are extremely loyal to their home territory, breed throughout the year and use buildings as nesting sites. Feral pigeons do not pose a greater health risk than other birds.
As grain-eating birds, they find very little appropriate food in cities and, driven by hunger, feed on human food waste. This results in poor nutrition, malnutrition, disease and injuries. In their constant search for food, they spend a great deal of time on the ground, where their feet can become entangled in hair, string and other thread-like litter, often resulting in severe injuries.

THE SITUATION IN LUCERNE
According to estimates by the authorities, around 2,000 to 3,000 feral pigeons live in the city. The two existing pigeon lofts provide only 180 nesting boxes and therefore serve only a small proportion of the population.
Crucially, the pigeons are not provided with appropriate food in the lofts. This means that a key mechanism for encouraging pigeons to use and remain in the lofts is missing. The birds continue to search for food in public spaces and breed on buildings, on balconies and at other uncontrolled locations.
The City of Lucerne takes the view that sufficient food is available to feral pigeons in public spaces. However, reducing the available food supply has little effect on breeding activity while increasing mortality and susceptibility to disease. The watery droppings frequently observed in malnourished feral pigeons, sometimes referred to as “hunger droppings”, are also associated with inadequate nutrition.
Two pigeon lofts alone do not constitute a pigeon management system. Without a coordinated and comprehensive approach, soiling, uncontrolled breeding and animal suffering will continue.

THE SOLUTION
Sustainable pigeon management based on the Augsburg Model consists of several coordinated measures:

• Establishing managed pigeon lofts at suitable hotspots
• Providing appropriate food and water
• Humane population management through systematic egg replacement
• Professionally closing unmanaged nesting sites without harming the birds
• Targeted public information and, where necessary, feeding restrictions outside the lofts

These measures encourage pigeons to use the managed lofts and remain there. Sick or injured birds can be identified early and given appropriate care. A large proportion of the droppings accumulates inside the lofts, where it can be removed safely and professionally.

Why killing pigeons is not a solution
Culling does not address the causes of the pigeon problem. Reduced populations can recover as other pigeons move into the area and resources become available to the remaining birds.