Hope for turtle doves
Through research, partnerships and practical conservation delivery, the RSPB’s Birds without Borders programme has made important steps forward in understanding more about declining migratory birds right along the flyway from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa and how we can help them. There’s no better example of this joined up, flyway-scale conservation approach than our work on turtle doves.
Together with Natural England, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust and Fair to Nature, the RSPB is part of Operation Turtle Dove, which aims to improve the fortunes of these birds through testing and delivering practical conservation action.
Having learned that a lack of food during the breeding season is having a negative effect on turtle doves, we've been carrying out work with the University of Sheffield to investigate whether providing supplementary seed during this period is safe and effective. Encouragingly, our research has shown that this is a safe emergency conservation option. We're now working with land managers to ensure that food is available for turtle doves in key areas.