The first Columba livia population research at Jena city, Eastern Germany

The aim of this study was to collect the first ecological data of Columba livia population in Jena, Germany, between June to October of 2007. Jena conserves historical monuments, rebuilt houses and landscape combines urban and suburban mixed with green valleys. Ten transects were walked weekly covering a city area with main old buildings. Birds were registered by census using binoculars, hearing, cooing camera and mapping. Population characteristics, behavioural activities, feeding sources, roosting sites, reproduction and plumage types were gathered. Local population inhabits and breeds in building edges, suburban high houses, churches, attics and crevices in walls. Main pigeons activities are allopreening, breeding, feeding from streets and sunbathing in roofs and water gutters. Feeding is associated with human urban food sites on streets, comes from leftovers and thrown man-like wastes. Wheat and snails had been collected from stomach chicks. Flocks aggregate in Platanus acerifolia and suburban houses are chosen as roofing areas. Plumage phenotypes were blue bar, blue checker, and t-checker. Building facades, statues, monuments have porcupine spikes as well as scripted walls are wired net protected, however feral pigeons are still perching over. Falco tinnunculus local couples scare pigeons, ravens and crowns mimetic figures are glued on roofs meanwhile raptor strident sounds are played at night in the city centre.