Wildlife

Wild Turtle Dove Conservation and Welfare

Turtle doves are the UK's fastest declining bird, with summer migrant populations falling by over 95% since the 1970s.

Key Facts

UK turtle dove population has fallen by 98% since the 1970s
Loss of weed-rich feeding habitat and nest site destruction are primary drivers
Turtle doves require specific plants including fumitory and chickweed for food
Conservation headlands and seed mixes on farmland can support breeding pairs
Illegal spring shooting during migration in some Mediterranean countries adds pressure

Welfare Considerations

Population collapse means individual birds face increasing difficulty finding mates and suitable habitat, increasing the physiological stress of migration and breeding. Illegal shooting during migration causes direct acute suffering and death. The welfare of individual birds and the conservation of the population are aligned - restoring the food plants and nesting habitats that sustain individuals is simultaneously a welfare and conservation intervention.

What You Can Do

Create weed-rich areas with fumitory, chickweed, and clover in rural gardens
Support Operation Turtle Dove and the RSPB recovery programme
Advocate against illegal spring shooting through EU wildlife protection campaigning