Turtle Dove Welfare: Englands Most Threatened Farmland Bird

The turtle dove is now one of the most rapidly declining farmland birds in England, having lost over 98% of its population since 1970 due to agricultural intensification and hunting.

Key Facts

The turtle dove population in the UK has fallen by 98% since 1970
It is now on the Red List of UK Birds of Conservation Concern
Legal hunting during migration in EU Mediterranean countries kills hundreds of thousands annually
Operation Turtle Dove brings together farmers, conservation groups, and landowners to reverse the decline

Welfare Considerations

Turtle doves depend on arable weeds and open seedbeds on farmland for feeding, habitats that have been almost entirely eliminated by modern agriculture. They also require scrubby hedgerows for nesting. Adults exhausted from migration face hunting pressure in countries including Malta and Cyprus where significant legal shooting occurs. Climate change is altering the timing of African rain patterns that fuel pre-migration feeding in their wintering grounds. Population fragmentation and small group sizes reduce breeding success. Supplementary feeding programs on farms have shown local population benefits.

What You Can Do

Support farmers who participate in Operation Turtle Dove agri-environment schemes
Advocate for reform of EU hunting laws that permit turtle dove shooting during migration
Create wildlife-friendly garden habitat with dense hedging for nesting
Support the RSPB and BTO monitoring programs tracking turtle dove populations
Donate to turtle dove conservation programs in Senegal and other wintering grounds