Comprehensive Guide
New Guide: A Practical Resource for Municipalities
We have completely revised our comprehensive guide to urban pigeon management. The result is our new guide, “Managed Pigeon Lofts: A Practical Guide to Effective and Humane Urban Pigeon Management in Switzerland.”
It brings together our expertise and is aimed particularly at municipalities, public authorities, businesses and committed individuals who are interested in sustainable urban pigeon management or would like to initiate a project of their own.
From the Problem to a Sustainable Solution
The guide starts with the underlying causes: urban pigeons are the feral descendants of domesticated pigeons. Understanding their origins and the behaviours shaped by domestication is essential to understanding why many conventional measures fail to achieve the desired results in the long term.
We therefore also examine deterrence, culling, feeding bans, sterilisation and other methods, highlighting their limitations from both a professional and animal welfare perspective.
The Augsburg Model in Practice
At the heart of the guide is the Augsburg Model. Strategically located managed pigeon lofts provide safe nesting sites and appropriate care. By regularly swapping clutches for dummy eggs, pigeon populations can be managed in a targeted and humane way.
The guide deliberately goes beyond theory. It covers site selection, loft types and setup, feeding, egg swapping, cleaning, health monitoring, responsibilities, funding and evaluation. Examples from Switzerland and Germany also show how managed pigeon lofts are already being implemented in practice.
A Practical Resource for Municipalities and Projects
Our aim was to create a document that not only provides information, but can also serve as a practical basis for project planning and discussions with municipalities, public authorities and businesses.
Anyone advocating for sustainable urban pigeon management in their local area can share the guide with the relevant authorities and organisations. Where possible, we also support specific projects through advice, networking and professional exchange.
The full guide is available to download free of charge as a PDF:
Would you like to start a project or have questions about implementation? We’re happy to help.
