Guy Anderson, RSPB Thanks to a certain Christmas song, turtle doves are forever associated with this time of year. Just one example of how frequently they crop up in our music, art, and literature. A bird that punches well above its weight in the heritage of human cultures all across its European and Asian breeding […]
Continue readingTurtle Dove Talk
Big step in progress with ending unsustainable hunting of turtle doves
The RSPB’s Carles Carboneras and Guy Anderson report on a major development with turtle dove hunting in Spain.
Continue readingTurtle Dove update
As we come towards the end of a very unusual spring and summer, we take a look at what’s been happening in the world of turtle dove conservation.
Continue readingDoodle a Dove
Corinne Pardey tells us how people have been taking part in #doodleadove during lockdown. The current ‘Lockdown’ situation has meant many people are staying safe at home. This has meant people are seeing more wildlife in their gardens and surrounding areas than ever before. Species they have never seen before, behaviour they have never witnessed. […]
Continue readingCelebrate with a Dove Story
We celebrate the RSPB’s turtle dove Conservation Advisors and how their on-the-ground conservation work is supporting the survival of these romantic figures. Turtle doves have long been a symbol of love. They are often seen in pairs and their beauty and soothing song have inspired artists throughout history in their depictions of romance. They have […]
Continue readingCrossing borders to learn more about turtle doves
Jos Ashpole from the RSPB reflects on a growing partnership for turtle doves between the UK and the Netherlands. While we are now in the depths of winter, in this blog we’ll head back to a beautiful summer’s day when my colleague Tony Morris and I set out for the green Suffolk countryside. Our travels […]
Continue readingAutumnal journeys of turtle doves
Dr John Mallord from the RSPB’s Centre for Conservation Science has been tracking turtle doves over the last few years to learn more about their migratory journeys. Here he describes the journeys the birds made on their southbound autumnal migration in 2019. All migrant birds face numerous challenges as they move between their breeding to […]
Continue readingReflecting on 2019
Thanks to dedicated research, we know that turtle doves are now far from the chilly UK. They have swapped the hedgerows and fields of the UK countryside for sub-Saharan Africa where you’ll find them in dense Acacia thickets where they roost and open grasslands and fields where the birds feed up. To find out more […]
Continue readingInspired by turtle doves – art raising funds for special bird
Turtle doves have long been part of our culture. Most people will know them from the Christmas carol, ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, but they also feature in poetry, pop songs and paintings. With their beautiful plumage and patterns, turtle doves continue to inspire artists to this day. Richard Baines of the North Yorkshire Turtle […]
Continue readingManaging land for turtle doves
Turtle doves are now making their long southward journeys to sub-Saharan Africa to spend the winter months. They may only have just left. But it’s not too early to start thinking about the things we can all do to provide them with feeding, nesting and drinking sites when they return next spring. This blog outlines […]
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