Dead pigeons in the field

Carcasses point to bizarre training methods

Pigeons found tied together in Burgenland.

(Bild: zVg Krone KREATIV)

A gruesome discovery in Parndorf, Burgenland: the employee of a veterinary clinic discovered the carcasses of mutilated pigeons tied together on a nearby field path. The police saw no evidence of animal cruelty. The demands of the referendum for a federal hunting law are getting louder and louder.

The neck tied with a string, the body mangled - during a walk with her two dogs, the employee of a veterinary clinic in Parndorf (Bgld.) discovered the remains of dead pigeons. 

The discovery was documented by the local police. The veterinary assistant offered to examine the carcass using X-rays to determine a possible cause of death. "It would be interesting to know whether the pigeons had been shot or died from a broken neck," said the animal lover. But the police decided otherwise and the remains were disposed of without an investigation.

A bird divides opinion
The pigeon polarizes opinion - both in the city and in the countryside. It is seen as a symbol of peace and at the same time is hated by many as the "rat of the air". Their droppings are a problem for cultural monuments or a nuisance for homeowners. Pigeons are sometimes shot indiscriminately, poisoned or often used as dummies for training hunting dogs - keyword "pigeon throwing".

However, the strings around the pigeons' necks could also indicate that the animals were strung up on the "gallows cart" used for small game hunting (pheasants, partridges and hares) and fell off the cart during transportation.

The "gallows cart": Verein gegen Tierfabriken recently documented a pheasant, partridge and hare massacre in Burgenland.

(Bild: Verein Gegen Tierfabriken/vgt.at)

Ring-necked pigeon and collared dove released for shooting
At the request of the "Krone" newspaper, the Burgenland Provincial Police Directorate stated that although the case in Parndorf had not yet been closed, there was no evidence of cruelty to animals. This is because ring-necked and collared pigeons may still be shot in Burgenland until mid-April. And possibly using dead pigeons as training dummies "does not fall under cruelty to animals", according to the responsible lieutenant colonel.

Even if the pigeon species is currently approved for shooting, animal carcasses should at least be disposed of and not left in the field. Every year, the environment in Austria is poisoned by tons of lead from ammunition. This is a danger for the environment (soil poisoning), for animals and not least for humans (lead contamination of game meat).

Incidentally, a complete ban on the use of lead-containing ammunition is one of the demands of the referendum for a federal hunting law. You can find all the information here.

Referendum can save endangered species
The EU Birds Directive is the most effective legal instrument for the conservation of bird populations in Europe. However, it allows 24 bird species to be hunted throughout the EU and a further 58 in some countries under Article 7. The referendum for a federal hunting law also means that endangered species such as the turtle dove or partridge may no longer be considered huntable in Austria in future.

Declarations of support for the referendum for all persons entitled to vote in Austria online using a cell phone signature or at any Austrian municipal office (take a photo ID with you).