Wild Turtle Dove Recovery and Habitat Management

The turtle dove is the UK's fastest declining bird species, having lost 98% of its population since 1970. Operation Turtle Dove is working to reverse this crisis through habitat creation.

Key Facts

Turtle dove populations declined by 98% in the UK between 1970 and 2019
They are now confined to southeastern England with small populations in East Anglia
Turtle doves require fumitory (Fumaria) and other arable wildflowers as primary food sources
Nesting occurs in scrubby woodland edges and thick hedgerows
They migrate to the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa each autumn
Hunting mortality during Mediterranean migration is a significant driver of decline
Operation Turtle Dove creates supplementary seed plots and nesting habitat at key UK sites

Welfare Considerations

Turtle dove welfare involves multiple stressors across their annual cycle. In the UK, food scarcity from loss of arable wildflowers drives breeding failure. During migration, illegal hunting across Mediterranean countries kills birds already stressed by the journey. In African wintering grounds, Sahel drought reduces food availability for birds attempting to build condition for return migration. Operation Turtle Dove's UK habitat creation provides one link in this welfare chain - supplementary seed plots that ensure birds have adequate food during the breeding season. UK welfare interventions must be combined with international advocacy for hunting moratoriums to address the full welfare picture.

What You Can Do

Support Operation Turtle Dove and RSPB turtle dove recovery programmes
Create Fumaria and supplementary seed plots if you farm in turtle dove areas
Advocate for hunting moratoriums in Mediterranean countries during turtle dove migration
Support the conservation tourism economy in African wintering grounds
Report turtle dove sightings immediately to RSPB - every record contributes to conservation