Wildlife

Stock Dove: Farmland Specialist Under Pressure

The stock dove is a farmland bird of prey on tree holes and old buildings whose welfare depends on agricultural practices.

Key Facts

Stock doves nest in holes in old trees or buildings and cannot make their own cavities
They declined sharply in the mid-20th century due to organochlorine pesticides
Recovery followed restrictions on pesticide use from the 1970s onwards
They feed on seeds, leaves, and grain from agricultural fields
Stock doves are monogamous and pairs often return to the same nest site each year

Welfare Considerations

Stock doves face ongoing welfare pressures from loss of old trees and hedgerow removal that eliminates nesting holes. Grain seed dressing can cause secondary poisoning. Cold springs reduce invertebrate availability affecting chick nutrition. Agricultural intensification has reduced field margins where birds feed safely.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for the retention of old trees in farmland landscapes
Encourage farmers to leave unharvested headlands and field margins
Report pesticide misuse that could affect grain-eating birds
Support agri-environment schemes that fund wildlife-friendly farming
Monitor local stock dove populations to detect any new declines