Wild Birds

Turtle Dove Conservation: A Farmland Bird in Crisis

The European turtle dove has declined by 98% in the UK since 1970, driven by changes in farming practices, illegal hunting on migration, and loss of nesting habitat.

Key Facts

UK turtle dove population has fallen from 125,000 pairs to under 2,500
Turtle doves require seeds from arable weeds that have been largely eliminated
Illegal hunting kills an estimated 3 million turtle doves in Mediterranean countries annually
Operation Turtle Dove combines habitat creation with hunting pressure reduction
Climate change is affecting food availability at breeding and staging sites

Welfare Considerations

Individual turtle doves face cumulative welfare pressures including food scarcity during breeding, the physiological demands of long-distance migration, and illegal hunting pressure. Survivors of hunting wounds frequently die slowly from injuries. The collapse of arable weed seed availability means breeding birds expend significantly more energy foraging.

What You Can Do

Create or advocate for bird-friendly farm margins with arable weed seed mixes
Support organizations campaigning against illegal turtle dove hunting in Mediterranean Europe
Donate to Operation Turtle Dove and similar farmland bird recovery programs
Participate in farmland bird monitoring citizen science programs
Engage with agricultural policy consultations to advocate for biodiversity-friendly farming