Turtle Dove Conservation and Welfare

The turtle dove is one of Britain's most rapidly declining birds, with a 98% population collapse since 1970. Its welfare and survival are critically threatened by habitat loss and hunting on migration.

Key Facts

UK turtle dove populations have declined by approximately 98% since 1970
Turtle doves migrate to and from sub-Saharan Africa and are legally hunted in several Mediterranean countries
They require a specific diet of small seeds from arable weeds that have disappeared from intensified farmland
The Operation Turtle Dove project has established supplementary seed mixes to support breeding birds
Hunting on migration routes in France, Malta, and other countries causes significant mortality

Welfare Considerations

Turtle dove welfare is compromised across their entire annual cycle. On UK breeding grounds, loss of arable weed seeds causes nutritional stress during the demanding breeding season. On migration through the Mediterranean, legal and illegal hunting causes direct mortality - an estimated 1-3 million are shot annually across Europe. On African wintering grounds, drought and habitat degradation reduce food availability. Comprehensive welfare improvement requires action across the entire flyway, including hunting reform, UK habitat restoration, and wintering ground protection.

What You Can Do

Support Operation Turtle Dove by planting supplementary seed mixes in gardens and farms
Advocate against hunting of turtle doves in EU Mediterranean countries
Donate to organizations working on turtle dove habitat restoration in the UK
Support BirdLife International's campaigns to reform bird hunting laws during migration