Prague built a dovecote for 150 birds on Mariánské náměstí
The administration of the capital decided to fight the overpopulation of pigeons by building a dovecote on Mariánské náměstí. It was created in the attic of one of the houses and can accommodate about 150 pigeons. The experts will then replace some of the eggs with artificial ones for the birds, which will allow the city to regulate their population. The construction of the pigeon loft cost 142,000 crowns, said municipality spokesman Vít Hofman. The number of pigeons in the metropolis is estimated at 100,000. She found the shape of her dovecote in the Prague 3 architectural competition, which she is planning in Vítkov.
“A pigeon loft, in which pigeons congregate and purposefully manage to reduce the number of eggs, is an effective way to regulate the pigeon population in cities in a gentle way,” said the mayor’s deputy, Jana Plamínková (STAN).
The municipality chose the building, pigeons had previously naturally clustered on its land, and it could be assumed that it would be easier to attract a large flock from the surrounding area. It is a simple wooden attic building, which includes nesting boxes, seats, feeders and water tanks.
The city-dwelling pigeon, nicknamed the “burgher” or “tower pigeon”, evolved from the original species of rock pigeon, which was domesticated by man and used for food and as a carrier pigeon. Later it went wild again and interbred with domesticated species. This has made it dependent on humans and unable to get enough food during the winter. So it is not a wild animal, but not a typical pet either.
Urban lofts operate in Germany, Austria or the Netherlands, for example. According to experts, the method of regulation described above is more sensitive and at the same time more effective than trapping or shooting. This will cause the food supply for the other pigeons in the territory to increase, so they will lay more eggs than before, and the numbers will quickly return to their original state.
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