There are signs of hope for the turtle dove, one of Britain's most endangered birds that is plummeting towards extinction.
A remarkable development is occurring after the annual shooting of migratory birds passing through France, Spain and Portugal was temporarily banned in 2021. Western Europe's population increases by 25%That includes 2,000 people clinging on in the UK.
This means 400,000 more breeding pairs across Western Europe This is a species whose numbers in the UK have declined by 98% over the past 30 years.
of Official numbers for 2024 British Turtle Pigeon populations are still in decline, down 15% compared to 2023, indicating that poor early summer weather is likely to be a factor in autumn.
But as conservation efforts redouble to save this beloved bird, immortalized in poetry similarly christmas songsome sites saw encouraging increases.
Operation Turtle Dovea partnership between farmers, landowners and the RSPB; Pensthorpe Conservation Trust Conservation groups such as The Wilderness now have a record 442 farms and landowners working to provide the right conditions for the birds to safely fledge more chicks.
To breed successfully, birds require an abundance of wild seeds that were previously provided by non-intensive agricultural systems. They also need thick shrubbery to nest safely away from predators and near a water source, such as a farm pond.
Operation Turtle Dove has provided over 20 tonnes of specialist turtle dove seed to farmers and land managers this year. In Essex, the number of supplementary feeding sites increased from 70 to 90 this summer.
Conservationists say increased protection for Western Flyway turtle doves, which migrate from their wintering grounds in West Africa via France, Spain and Portugal, means that more individuals will start arriving in England next year, where they will continue to grow. They hope to find more favorable conditions for turtle doves to grow.
Mark Nowers, the RSPB's turtle dove conservation advisor in Essex, said: “We have been successful in restoring the flyway and we want farmers to help prepare for turtle doves.” “Anecdotally, it's good to see the numbers in core areas going up. It feels like we're just starting to turn the corner.”
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The rewilding site at Knepp, West Sussex, shows how species can recover, especially when birds are provided with good nesting sites. In 1999, before rewilding began, there were only three singing males on the 1,400-hectare (3,500-acre) property. The 450-hectare section of the rewilded property features burgeoning tawny and buckthorn bushes. 20 singing men recorded in 2021 This year, there were 21 birds, and several young birds were sighted, proving that the birds are breeding successfully. Each male singer may represent a territory.
Mike Shermer, RSPB England's species lead, said: “It's really encouraging to see the combined efforts of the landowners and communities we work with to save turtle doves. A huge number of dedicated farmers and volunteers were involved. So we can continue to support the UK population of this iconic species, and these heroes return to their lands, rewarded with the purr of the Turtle Dove. More and more. They've done a great job.”
He added: “We are very optimistic that implementing effective protection at scale along the entire turtle dove migration route, combined with our work in the UK, will soon see a positive impact on turtle doves. There is a certain view,” he added. The future looks very bright for these special birds and we hope to see the results of the dedicated efforts of farmers, landowners and volunteers during the next national turtle dove survey. ”
