In the first of three blogs about turtle dove habitats, Jonny Rankin celebrates scrub and potentially one of his bird watching highlights of the year. My first turtle dove of the year was adjacent to a beautiful cottage – a cottage deep in thick cover in a section of treed scrub on the forest edge […]
Continue readingArchive
A year in the life of… a turtle dove
Dr Susana Requena from the RSPB’s Centre for Conservation Science explains how new satellite tracking technology is giving us an insight into the life of the turtle dove. Tracking and mapping With continuing advances in tracking technology, our capacity to track birds keeps breaking new barriers. One species that has benefited from smaller tags and […]
Continue readingWith a little help from our friends
Jos Ashpole Turtle doves in decline Spring is now certainly on its way. Blossom is starting to appear in our hedgerows and it won’t be long until the wintery greys make way for the vibrant greens and warm yellows of spring and summer. This can mean only one thing – the turtle doves are on […]
Continue readingScrubUpBritain
Twitter: @ScrubUpBritain Christopher Bridge, Rob Duncan and James Booty Turtle Doves have declined by 94% in the UK since 1995 and Nightingale by 53%. The ScrubUpBritain group feel that a national focus on the required breeding habitat of dense scrub thickets is now necessary in order to help reverse these shocking declines. We would love […]
Continue readingShare the love for turtle doves: the volunteer
I love this time of year, the anticipation of what’s to come. And without doubt the return of my local Turtle Doves is something I eagerly look forward to. I count myself very lucky to live in a place where this stunning little Dove comes to breed. Of course this is tinged with a bit […]
Continue readingShare the love for turtle doves: in the Netherlands
It’s not just the UK where turtle doves are in decline. These birds are also in trouble in the Netherlands too. Here, Jules Bos from Vogelbescherming (BirdLife in the Netherlands), shares how people are helping out turtle doves by providing them with a vital food supply when natural sources are scarce. Dutch decline In the […]
Continue readingShare the love for turtle doves: the fundraiser
Raising funds for turtle doves Dove step has been a huge part of my life for over five years now. For the uninitiated, Dove Step is friends and myself enduring for Turtle Doves. Undertaking arduous journeys to raise both awareness and funds for Operation Turtle Dove. To date we have raised almost £16k and endured […]
Continue readingLove, Hope & Good Faith
Graphic designer and jeweller, Ann Lamb, tells the story of her fundraising project to raise money for Operation Turtle Dove with the help of a collection of passionate local artists and writer. An inspiring bird This time last year I was wholeheartedly engrossed in a fundraising project for Operation Turtle Dove. Since starting to make […]
Continue readingMaldon District Council – leading the way in ‘Planning’ for Turtle Doves
Mark Nowers, RSPB Conservation Officer in Eastern England A top place for turtle doves The plight of the turtle dove and the work of dedicated farmers, landowners and conservationists in trying to save it is well known. But how can the world of planning policy and local councils help to save this bird? With limited resources, […]
Continue readingTurtle Doves – A species inspiring art and creativity
Guest blog by Ali Bennett The turtle dove was once a central part of the British countryside yet it is scarcely found nowadays. I’ve never heard a turtle dove. In fact, I’ve only ever seen one in flight and that was a few years back. It saddens me that this beautiful species could vanish completely […]
Continue reading