Bramble bushes are laden with berries, spiders’ webs are catching early morning dew and the flowers of earlier in the year have transformed into crisp seedheads – summer is slowly drifting into autumn. For us that means seeing the countryside shift from the greens and yellows of spring and summer to the reds and oranges […]
Continue readingBig news – Turtle Dove numbers in Western Europe are on the up!
With summer in full swing and our advisors out and about working with farmers and other land managers, we’ve had really encouraging reports of Turtle Doves, including young birds, in places where people are actively managing the land to help these special visitors. Recovery begins It’s great to hear when Turtle Doves have returned to […]
Continue readingTurtle Doves – Can you hear them yet?
Spring means one thing for anyone involved in Turtle Dove conservation – Turtle Doves are returning! As we write this in early April, the birds will have already spread their wings and be well into their long voyage from the savannahs of West Africa, across the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea and into Iberia and […]
Continue readingMeet the team
Across the Turtle Dove’s core range in southern and eastern England, the RSPB has a team of advisors who are working with a range of dedicated people who share our passion for saving the Turtle Dove. Rick Bayne, Operation Turtle Dove Senior Project Manager from the RSPB, introduces some of the team. Operation Turtle Dove […]
Continue readingGet creative!
Turtle Doves are beautiful birds and they feed on the seeds of very some pretty plants. We’ve combined the two in a colouring sheet that you can download below. Get creative! We’d love to see your completed colouring sheets – share them with us at @SaveTurtleDoves on Twitter/X or email them to an advisor. Download […]
Continue readingGiving the gift of hope: How hundreds of farmers and volunteers across South East and Eastern England are helping to save rare Turtle Doves
As 2023 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the fantastic efforts that have been made this year to support Turtle Dove conservation. Hundreds of UK farmers, landowners and volunteers are helping to give the gift of hope for Turtle Doves, working with Operation Turtle Dove to provide better nesting and feeding habitat for the […]
Continue readingTalking Turtle Doves – we answer some frequently asked questions
Operation Turtle Dove is working with hundreds of people – farmers, land managers, communities and a whole host of volunteers – to create the right habitat conditions to allow Turtle Doves to thrive once more. Below, we’ve set out some frequently asked questions and their answers to help shed some light on Turtle Doves, how […]
Continue readingTurtle Doves are back – and we’re celebrating some great news
The arrival of warmer weather and brighter days brings with it the arrival of much-loved migratory birds, including the Turtle Dove. In the past few days we’ve heard from excited colleagues who have spotted their first Turtle Doves of the year – what a joyful sight! We can once again listen out for the Turtle […]
Continue readingWorking with farmers to provide seed-rich feeding habitat for Turtle Doves
Turtle Doves will be heading off on their autumn migration to West Africa over the next few weeks. We’ve just had the great news that their migration will again be safer owing to continued hunting bans in France and Spain. Now is a great time to think about what you can do to welcome them […]
Continue readingTaking action to save turtle doves
Every spring we wait in anticipation for the first purring call of the turtle dove. For many, it’s a sure sign that spring is here. However, over the years it has become harder and harder to hear the familiar turr turr call as numbers of turtle doves has continued to dwindle. The results of a […]
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