Happy pigeon project
2025-

Supplementary feeding (or bird feeding) is a widespread conservation tool and popular recreational activity. By relieving animals of the effects of unpredictability or scarcity in their food supplies, it promises to promote animal wellbeing. In Germany supplementary feeding is also used as part of welfare-oriented population management of pigeons. Known locally as the Augsburg model, pigeons are systematically fed to attract breeding, and their eggs culled. Here, we assess the consequences of bird feeding, using feral pigeons as our study organism, and the Augsburg model as semi-natural feeding experiments in 3 German cities: Braunschweig, Munich and Würzburg. We also assess the wellbeing of pigeons placed in captivity, when conflict cannot be managed in-situ, to understand how absolute food security is perceived when this comes at a cost to freedom. To do so, we collect data on body mass, feather and egg corticosterone, behaviour and eggshell conditions to holistically assess wellbeing across all our studied pigeons.

While wellbeing is a central focus in this project, we also study the downstream effects of improved welfare linked to bird feeding, from reproduction to health and behaviour.

Funder: Wild Animal Initiative

Scientific collaborators: Dr. Otto Kalliokoski (University of Copenhagen), Dr. Beate Apfelbeck (University of Salzburg)

Special thanks to: Einsatz für Tiere, Stadttauben München, Stadttiere Braunschweig, Gut Aiderbichl, Fachbereich Verbraucherschutz Würzburg, Kreisverwaltungsreferat Landeshauptstadt München