Through our campaigns, we draw attention to problems and advocate for concrete improvements in the way urban pigeons are treated – through actions, petitions and other projects promoting sustainable, humane solutions.
Petition for Lucerne’s Urban Pigeons
“Urban pigeons are feral domestic pigeons. A feeding ban does not solve the problem – it merely forces the birds to continue breeding even when they are suffering from severe hunger. The devastating consequences: starving chicks and a constant risk of injury. What is needed is a solution that finally addresses the root cause! We are calling for managed pigeon lofts based on the Augsburg Model.
That’s why we have launched a petition for sustainable and humane urban pigeon management in Lucerne! Please sign and share: www.stadttauben-luzern.ch. Thank you!”
“Pigeons are sentient and intelligent beings and, like all animals, have a fundamental right to life and physical integrity. The systematic killing of these animals not only raises ethical concerns but also fails to provide a sustainable solution for population management. Scientific evidence and experience from other cities show that culling measures remain ineffective in the long term, as newly available habitats are quickly repopulated.
We therefore urge you to end the measures currently used to kill urban pigeons in Zurich.”
Documenting Pigeon Deterrent Hazards on SBB Premises
We regularly receive reports of urban pigeons becoming trapped in netting and other deterrent systems or being found dead at Swiss railway stations. A particularly serious case involving an SBB bridge in Niederglatt ultimately prompted us to begin documenting these observations systematically.
In October 2025, we therefore launched the #GemeinsamDokumentieren campaign. Our aim is to identify problematic areas on SBB premises and create a basis for concrete improvements. One year after the campaign began, we had received almost 100 usable reports, documenting problematic deterrent systems, animal welfare concerns and dead pigeons at SBB locations through photos or videos.
Because of their history of domestication, urban pigeons have a strong reproductive drive and can breed several times a year. To reduce their population sustainably, reproduction therefore needs to be managed directly. This is precisely where egg swapping comes in: rather than displacing or killing existing birds, or allowing population control to occur through hunger and increased mortality among young pigeons, egg swapping prevents new chicks from continually being born.
To raise awareness of this important method of population management, we provide two dummy eggs free of charge for egg swapping in domestic pigeons within Switzerland. We are also happy to provide advice if you have a pigeon nest on your balcony.
