Third pigeon house in the center of Jena goes into operation

Jena's city center now has its third pigeon house for the sustainable care of the city's pigeon population. After the first two at Löbdergraben and Goethe Galerie, there is now a new home for the city birds at Löbderstraße 2, the so-called City Carree.

"The pigeon houses are an important step towards sustainable and animal-friendly management of urban pigeons," said Christian Gerlitz, Mayor and Head of the Department for Urban Development and the Environment.

In recent years, conflicts with urban pigeons have already been significantly reduced thanks to the existing pigeon houses. Nevertheless, there was still a need, particularly in the central inner city area.

A strategically favorable location was found on the premises of a Munich real estate company in Löbderstrasse. The owner was open to the project right from the start. The local institutions and companies also showed great interest. Several partners agreed to support the construction and care of the third pigeon house as part of a cooperation model.

"From the initial discussions to the final construction, the project has always been accompanied with the full support of all partners. The implementation of this project in Jena demonstrates the commitment of the city and civil society to innovative and sustainable solutions in urban areas. I would like to thank all the sponsors for their outstanding commitment! Without them, the project would not have been possible," says Gerlitz.

The costs of around 100,000 euros for the construction of the pigeon house are being borne roughly equally by the city of Jena and the partners involved. The high sum is due to the special location of the City-Carree. An elaborate staircase had to be installed for access to the house. In addition, the pigeon house is relatively spacious with 140 nesting places. Like the other inner-city pigeon houses, it is looked after by a competent pigeon keeper from inJena gGmbH, a company of ÜAG gGmbH Jena.

In addition to the city of Jena, the following companies and institutions participated in the construction of the pigeon house:

• KG, represented by Real I.S. AG Gesellschaft für Immobilien Assetmanagement
• Jena University Hospital
• Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland
• Das Erste Hochhaus Deutschlands GmbH
• Finnwaa GmbH
• Housing cooperative "Carl Zeiss" eG
• Marktpassagen Jena Wieland KG (Tectareal Property Management GmbH)
• SABIV Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH (Holzmarkt)
• Café Stilbruch Jena GmbH
• dotSource SE
• jenawohnen
• Friedrich Schiller University

Further partners were also acquired to provide financial support for the operation of the pigeon house:

• Finnwaa GmbH
• Jena University Hospital
• Friedrich Schiller University
• jenawohnen
• Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland
• The owner, Bayernfonds Immobilien City Investitionen Objekte Erfurt und Jena KG, represented by Real I.S. AG Gesellschaft für Immobilien Assetmanagement

The background

Pigeon houses provide a sustainable, animal-friendly and effective approach to a problem that cannot be solved solely by chasing away, trapping nets or wiring. They provide a species-appropriate environment for the pigeons and help to reduce the pigeon population and the associated pollution. The pigeons are permanently tied to the pigeon houses. They are fed in a species-appropriate manner, nesting sites are created, clutches of eggs are replaced with dummy eggs and the pigeon droppings are disposed of. In return, the surrounding area benefits considerably from reduced soiling from pigeon droppings, and the quality of life in public spaces increases.