Between the late 1960s and 2021, Turtle Doves (Streptopelia turtur) declined dramatically in the UK and reduced almost everywhere else in their European range.

However, following the introduction of a hunting moratorium in western Europe and a subsequent end to unsustainable hunting, there has been a rapid and encouraging start to population recovery. As expected, this has initially been in the core breeding population in Spain, and we expect this to ripple out in future years to reach the UK in the near future. We now know the key barrier to the sustained recovery of Turtle Doves breeding in the UK is available foraging and breeding habitat. Knowing what conservation action needs to be taken, Operation Turtle Dove is optimistic that we can reverse the fortunes of this enigmatic and culturally significant bird.

You can play a part in their recovery by providing more of the right habitat and help get the UK get ‘Turtle Dove Ready’ !