Hessian cities count their pigeons: Frankfurt launches first survey in September

Frankfurt prepares first citywide count

Frankfurt, Hesse's largest city, will conduct its first official pigeon count on September 12, 2026, and is recruiting volunteer helpers. Registration is open until September 1 through an online portal. The city recently stated that no specialist knowledge is needed for the task.

Specialist knowledge is not required - what is important is merely a careful recording of the observed pigeons.

Volunteers will be assigned a specific counting area in Frankfurt, such as Opernplatz. In that area, they are to count the pigeons present during two counting periods. The city recommends bringing a smartphone or camera for recording larger flocks, along with weatherproof clothing. Participants receive an allowance for their effort. Because the number of counting areas is limited, not all applicants may be accommodated if interest is high. A few months ago, Frankfurt estimated its pigeon population at 8,000 to 15,000 animals. The official count is intended to provide more clarity on the actual number.

Darmstadt's city center count

Darmstadt conducted a count in its city center last summer, covering the pedestrian zone and adjacent areas. The city did not issue a public call for helpers because enough people were already engaged in pigeon welfare, supported by the Tierschutzverein (animal protection association).

Due to the large number of people already engaged in supporting city pigeons and the personnel support of the animal protection association, a public call was not necessary.

At 21 locations in the city center, approximately 1,000 pigeons were recorded. This figure already includes a correction factor for a so-called "Dunkelziffer" (unrecorded number), since not all animals are visible at all times. A follow-up count is planned for autumn or winter 2026, and a public call may be issued for that round.

Wiesbaden's biennial counts

Wiesbaden counts pigeons every two years, a process carried out exclusively by members of the Stadttaubenhilfe Mainz/Wiesbaden association and their friends and acquaintances, as the city announced. Most participants take part regularly and are familiar with the procedure. Using a fixed calculation formula, the counted numbers are extrapolated to estimate the total population. In 2025, the estimated total population in the Wiesbaden city center was 4,099 individuals, a decrease of roughly 30 percent compared to 2023. The next large count in the Wiesbaden city area is scheduled for October 2027.

Kassel, Fulda, and cities without counts

Kassel conducted a survey in 2023 at known hotspots, but the results were not meaningful. A city spokesperson explained that a regional infectious disease had drastically reduced the population at that time, leaving only an estimated few hundred animals. The number from that estimate therefore carries no significance for the current population.

Today, one assumes the presence of city pigeons at a multiple of the estimate at that time.

Further estimates are planned, but no specific date has been set. Fulda counted pigeons in 2018 and 2022, among other things with the involvement of an expert. Gießen and Offenbach have not conducted any pigeon counts.