They are always there where people eat outdoors: fallen breadcrumbs, leftover ice cream cones or crushed chips. For a city pigeon, the table in an old town like Marktheidenfeld is richly laid. The downside: the city keeps receiving complaints from individual companies and from the church, pointing to pollution caused by the pigeons. Complaints about dirt and legacies around houses and properties as well as on public areas also come from the population.
The problem is particularly noticeable on the Mainkai and in the old town. At the beginning of the year, the city therefore asked publicly not to feed pigeons in Marktheidenfeld and in the districts. In addition, it can be observed again and again that large quantities of stale bread are poured out to feed the animals. The problem here: On the one hand, the animals become ill due to the inappropriate feeding. On the other hand, in addition to pigeons, ducks and geese, the bread is increasingly attracting rats to the feeding grounds. The appeal of the city: do not feed the animals and dispose of old bread in the organic waste bin.
How the city of Würzburg regulates its pigeon problem
Marktheidenfeld is not alone with the pigeon problem. The cooing birds and their legacies are a topic in almost all larger cities. In Würzburg, a pigeon management has been initiated for this reason, which takes care of this problem. Several pigeon towers and pigeon lofts were built in the city. There the pigeons spend most of the day and get enough food and water. Their eggs will be replaced with dummy eggs, so there won’t be a ton of new pigeons. As a result, the city is relieved and is no longer so polluted. However, this also has its price: pigeon towers and pigeon lofts have caused costs in the four-digit range. Working materials, feed and water must be added to this.
The situation in Marktheidenfeld is not so serious that pigeon management is needed. “We have the subject of pigeons on the radar,” describes Marcus Meier from the city of Marktheidenfeld. In addition, one coordinates with other cities in Main-Spessart what possibilities of “pigeon containment” there are.
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