Wildlife Conservation

Wild Turtle Dove Population Collapse

Turtle doves are the UK's most rapidly declining bird species, with populations down by 98% since 1970. Farm management and hunting pressure on migration routes drive the collapse.

Key Facts

Turtle doves declined by 98% in the UK between 1970 and 2020
Loss of mixed farming and seed-rich habitat has removed essential food sources
Hunting of turtle doves on migration routes kills thousands annually
Species on the Edge and Operation Turtle Dove projects target recovery in core areas
EU legislation to halt turtle dove hunting has been slow to be implemented

Welfare Considerations

Turtle dove decline is an emergency-level conservation crisis driven by multiple interacting pressures. Recovery requires both agricultural habitat change and enforcement of hunting limits across the migratory range.

What You Can Do

Support Operation Turtle Dove and Species on the Edge recovery projects
Advocate for European-wide implementation of turtle dove hunting moratoria
Plant seed-rich habitats and wild bird food crops if you manage farmland