An artistic pigeon loft is set to be created on Prague's Vítkov

Prague – Prague 3 plans to place an artistically designed pigeon loft on the top of Vítkov in cooperation with the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague (GHMP). The gallery announced an open call for authors, who can submit their designs. Prague 3's councilor for the environment, Jan Bartko, stated that gathering pigeons in one place is a proven method to prevent nesting in undesired locations and regulate the bird population. Prague plans an overall redevelopment of Vítkov Hill, which is located between Žižkov and Karlín.

"Regulating the pigeon population in the city is a problem faced by every municipal district. Often, unethical capture of pigeons and subsequent gassing are resorted to. The leadership of the Prague 3 municipal district has moved away from this solution, but the problem of overpopulated pigeons persists," reads the description of the open call. Authors can apply until July 8.

According to Bartko, the primary purpose of the project is to provide a place for the birds in the pigeon loft where they will receive food and nest, thus not bothering people, for example, on window sills. The largest pigeon lofts, he says, can accommodate hundreds of birds. "Gathering pigeons in one place also gives us the opportunity to regulate their population, as eggs can be easily taken directly from the nests. Compared to regular gassing, this is a much more humane solution. It also allows us to more easily monitor their health and prevent the spread of diseases,” said the councilor.

The pigeon loft is to be created as part of the project Art for the City, under which the city supports the placement of artworks in the streets of the metropolis. The city council also commissioned a study on the improvements of Vítkov in recent years. According to it, in the coming years, greenery, vegetation on slopes should be restored, and overall permeability, as well as stairway and path networks, should be improved. Renovation awaits engineering networks, lighting, and facilities for maintenance and residents. A project for the first phase of improvements, which will concern the main pathway and its immediate surroundings, is currently being prepared.

The dominant feature of Vítkov is the National Monument with the equestrian statue of Jan Žižka. It was created in the 1930s. It was meant to commemorate the birth of the Czechoslovak state and the heroism of legionnaires, but also to serve as a meeting place for parliament and for other events. Later, the monument became a mausoleum for communist leaders. It now houses an exhibition on Czech and Czechoslovak modern history, which opened in 2009 and falls under the National Museum.