Cleaning work on Kaiserlei Bridge without danger to pigeons nesting there

In recent weeks, cleaning and maintenance work on the Kaiserlei Bridge (A661), which was carried out on behalf of the federal highway company responsible for the structure, has attracted a great deal of attention. The Frankfurt City Pigeon Project criticized the fact that pigeons had been harmed in the process. In addition, pigeons had been trapped in the bridge openings, where they also nest. The city of Frankfurt informed the Offenbach veterinary office about the work and the animal rights activists' accusations in mid-January. Monika Grimm, Head of the Veterinary and Consumer Protection Office, has since been able to clarify the events: "The work was not initiated by the City of Offenbach, nor is it the responsibility of the city. However, the Offenbach Veterinary Office immediately became involved in the matter and was able to ascertain that none of the animals found had been harmed. It was established that there were several open entrances and exits for the animals."

According to the veterinary office, the images and video footage taken by the city pigeon project during the cleaning work did not provide any conclusive evidence of violations of the Animal Welfare Act or any acute danger. Neither dead pigeons nor destroyed clutches of eggs were visible. There was also no evidence of acute stress or health impairment of the pigeons behind the fence, which would be expected if the animals were permanently confined. When asked, Autobahn GmbH assured that the cleaning, which takes place every two years, is carried out in an animal-friendly manner without destroying any nests. "Those responsible at the company were very cooperative and also interested in ensuring that such cleaning work is carried out correctly," explains Grimm. Accordingly, further checks were carried out by the responsible highway maintenance department in order to rule out any danger to the animals.

During an on-site inspection, which was also accompanied by a vet, it emerged that, in addition to a visible opening that had been provisionally closed during the cleaning work, there were two other entrances and exits for the pigeons via wastewater channels. Access via these open drainage channels extends over the entire length of the bridge. The birds could and can therefore fly in and out at any time. All the animals that were there appeared healthy. "For this reason, no further official measures were necessary," says Grimm. "Nevertheless, we have agreed that the bridge will be checked regularly."

According to Autobahn GmbH, the cleanings are necessary for safety reasons in order to detect possible damage to the structure. In order to prevent damage caused by the large quantities of pigeon droppings, the access points to the inside of the bridge are to be closed off in the long term. However, this will be carried out under the supervision of an expert surveyor and in close cooperation with the Offenbach veterinary office to prevent pigeons from being accidentally trapped. "The bridge is not a suitable place for a pigeon roost. The pigeons will look for another nesting place if the bridge is closed at some point," says Grimm.