Love is not in the air as turtle dove population plummets

ONLY 2,100 pairs of turtle doves now breed in the UK, down from 125,000 in 1970, a survey shows.

Numbers of the turtle dove – long considered a symbol of love – have fallen by 98 per cent since the seventies, mainly due to a loss of habitats in UK breeding grounds and hunting.

Wildlife charity the RSPB said there is still hope for the species, with solutions now in place to tackle the threats they face, including Operation Turtle Dove – a partnership of conservation organisations driving efforts to restore and create suitable habitats for the birds to breed in the UK.

The RSPB said it is imperative that agri-environmental schemes in England continue to support farmers who implement wildlife-friendly measures on their land.

Turtle doves are also threatened by unsustainable hunting practices. An estimated one million birds a year were shot in south-west Europe until recently.

In 2021, for the first time, no hunting of turtle doves was permitted in France, Spain or Portugal.

Turtle doves, the only long-distance migratory dove species in Europe, known for their “purring” call, are now concentrated in south-eastern and eastern England as far north as Yorkshire.

Andrew Stanbury, conservation scientist with the RSPB, said: “Although these results paint a stark picture with numbers, the way forward is clear and we stand a good chance of turning around the fortunes of this bird.”

Phil Grice, of Natural England, said: “Providing good nesting habitat, in the form of tall hedges and mature scrub, and abundant seed resources throughout the late spring and summer will be vital.”